Ali Naghiyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, has unexpectedly “expressed his belief that purposeful contacts with the relevant state commission of Armenia will continue successfully” and “make a positive contribution to determining the fate of missing persons on both sides.”

Naghiyev made this statement during his speech at an international conference on "Uniting efforts and enhancing cooperation for addressing the issue of missing persons" held in Azerbaijani capital Baku, according to Report.az.

According to him, the trilateral statement signed in Washington in August, as well as the first meeting held in February between the relevant state commissions of Azerbaijan and Armenia and subsequent contacts, along with certain exchanges of information, create new hopes in this regard.

It should be recalled, however, that over the past three decades, Azerbaijan had persistently refused to collaborate on this important humanitarian matter.