The Astrakhan meeting resolved a problem the Azerbaijani people had been concerned over for a long time, stated Ali Gasanov, Head of the Public and Political Department, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration.

He welcomes the results of the trilateral presidential meeting, which ended in a declaration on the return of POWs and bodies of those killed.  

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev issued a joint statement following their meeting in Astrakhan.

They re-affirmed the Meyendorff Declaration and stressed that a political settlement of the problem requires further efforts to bolster the ceasefire regime and strengthen confidence-building measures. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents agreed that their first step would be an immediate exchange of prisoners of war and the return of the bodies of those killed. This would be organized with the help of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Eight POWs, six civilians, as well as two dead bodies, are to be returned. Armenia is to return the body of Mubariz Ibrahimov, and Azerbaijan the body of Manvel Saribekyan.

NEWS.am reminds readers that the 7th Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting was held in Astrakhan, Oct. 27.