On December 2, Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian received ICRC Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Martin Schüepp, the Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia Claire Meytraud, who is completing her mission in Armenia, the newly appointed Head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia Thierry Ribaut, as well as the Senior Crisis Manager Pascal Hundt.

The meeting mainly focused on the issues of the return of the captives and hostages held in Azerbaijan, the searching of the missing persons and the exchange of bodies of those killed. In this regard, the sides reaffirmed their readiness to combine the efforts for finding an urgent and comprehensive solution to these priorities.

Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed his concern over the numerous cases of inhuman, humiliating treatment, torture and punishment towards the Armenian captives and the civilian population by the Azerbaijani armed forces.

The participants also touched upon the issues of overcoming the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh caused by the Azerbaijani aggression, in particular, the support of the Armenians of Artsakh affected by the war, the restoration of infrastructure, and the urgent assistance to the displaced people returning to Artsakh. Ara Aivazian highly appreciated the ICRC's efforts in this direction, and reiterated the readiness of the Armenian side to continue close cooperation to raise the efficiency of the humanitarian response.