IKV
with the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly has been working on the
topic of missing soldiers since 2002. The missing soldiers as a result
of the conflicts are one of the major issues preventing the hostile
parties from a dialogue. There are a lot of myths about the existence
of camps where former soldiers do slave labor. Also there are a lot
of different numbers going around, both aspects contributing to an
atmosphere of distrust.
Since
2002 a lot has been achieved on this topic. There is now exchange
of information between relatives on both sides of the conflict, and
there have been several meetings between relatives on the opposing
sides. A major event in this aspect was the exchange visit of Azeri
relatives to Nagorno Karabach in 2003.
An
important aim in the work on missing persons has been achieved: relatives
of missing persons are in touch with the opposing side, are working
together to solve their common problem. There will however not be
a solution unless the Azeri and Armenian governments are more active
on this topic: not only do they not have an active policy of exchange
of remains of the other party, but also the relatives of missing persons
in their own country do not receive any support in their efforts or
are even approached hostile.
Over
the past years, the relatives have become more and more competent
in their actions. It is reasonable to expect that in the near future
they will be able to attract other funds, to be less dependent on
the hCa’s and through them on IKV. Because of their grown competence
and because in the area of peace building it seems unlikely many news
things will be achieved by continuing this project on longer term.
Therefore, IKV intends to stop the work on this topic after 2006.
To
give the relatives and the hCa’s that will continue to work
on this topic as many opportunities as possible, a major aspect of
the activities related to missing persons will be directed to the
attraction of public attention, both in the international arena and
in the local societies. A main instrument especially internationally
for this will be the movie ‘hope dies last’ on missing
soldiers as a result of the Karabach war, a movie made on request
of IKV in 2004.
Another
important aspect of the activities in 2005 and 2006 will be prevention.
Especially in Georgia many people still disappear in the conflict
zones. In Armenia and Azerbaijan it are mostly soldiers that risk
of being captured by the other party. The hCa’s will hold a
campaign among risk groups to inform them on the possibility of hostage
taking, but also on ways to handle these risks and on their rights
in such a situation.
