ICRC: Azerbaijan says it is ready to hand over bodies of 100 Armenian servicemen

YEREVAN, September 15. /ARKA/. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has received a message from the Azerbaijani authorities about their readiness to hand over to Armenia the bodies of 100 Armenian soldiers killed in clashes with Azerbaijani forces on September 13 and 14 dead, Zara Amatuni, press officer at the Armenian Delegation of ICRC, told Novosti Armenia news agency.

"Yes, we received such information about their intention yesterday. We cannot provide any details because we are in a confidential dialogue with the authorities," she said.

Zara Amatuni noted that there is an ICRC office in Baku, which is in touch with local authorities. The office in Armenia is also in constant communication with the Armenian authorities.

"We have offered our mediation on issues that relate to our mediation role, including regarding the prisoners and, if necessary, the transfer of bodies of the dead. We are ready, the main thing is for the parties to come to an agreement and for them to come to us if they consider our mediation important," she said.

Around midnight on September 13, the armed forces of Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack in the southern and southeastern directions of the Republic of Armenia, encroaching on the territorial integrity of Armenia. The aggression was carried out with the use of artillery, mortars and UAVs, including not only in the Armenia-Azerbaijan bordering area, but also in the areas of Sotk, Vardenis, Goris, Kapan, Artanish and Ishkhanasar settlements and their civilian infrastructure of Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions. As of today, the Armenian side has 105 victims.-0-