ARMENIA CONFIRMS RELEASE OF POWS BY AZERBAIJAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000173 SIPDIS EUR/CACEN, EUR/SNEC E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015 TAGS: PREL PBTS AM AJ OSCE SUBJECT: ARMENIA CONFIRMS RELEASE OF POWS BY AZERBAIJAN Classified By: DCM A.F. GODFREY for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Valery Mkrtumian, head of the Armenian MFA's International Organization Department confirmed that Azeri authorities released four Armenian soldiers on January 27 and delivered them to the Armenian border. Quoting his recent conversation with the Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsian, Mkrtumian stated that he believed the Azeris released the soldiers because the Armenians released two captured soldiers within the past month. He characterized the release by the Azeris as "goodwill manifested." Mkrtumian further stated that Armenia holds no Azeri prisoners and that he believes Azerbaijan currently holds no Armenians. EVANS