Mine clearance activities in Azerbaijan: priorities and needs
Shahin Abdullayev
Azerbaijan supports the vision of a world free of landmines. As President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stressed in his tweet on the occasion of April 4 – International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, more efforts should be made at the international level to put an end to mine-related terrorism around the world.
Since November 2020, Azerbaijan has allocated about US$200 million from its government budget to clear part of its territory of landmines deployed by the state of Armenia. As a result of these efforts, the lands are being cleared of landmines.
Azerbaijan is one of the countries most polluted by mines and explosive remnants of war in the world. Preliminary data collected indicates that the minimum number of landmines is about 1.5 million. However, the actual number of landmines may be much higher as a result of data currently collected through technical and non-technical surveys.
Given the importance of demining for humanitarian purposes of reconstruction and rehabilitation as well as for the social and economic reintegration of liberated territories, this topic has been identified as one of the main avenues for joint recovery needs assessment that the Government of Azerbaijan is currently carrying out with the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union in the Aghdam, Fezuli and Jabrayil regions of Azerbaijan.
As one of the most mine-infested countries, Azerbaijan is making every effort against the humanitarian threat posed by landmines to the civilian population. Increased international assistance to Azerbaijan by the donor community will contribute significantly to the global campaign against landmines while the current lack of due assistance limits this campaign.
Effective assistance to facilitate mine action in Azerbaijan and clearance of mines in the areas will enable both local and regional development, thus creating favorable conditions for regional stability. The increased capacity and experience of ANAMA (National Agency for Demining of the Territories of Azerbaijan) obtained through partnership with international actors provides a unique opportunity to be leveraged and shared in other affected countries.
It is worth noting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries in its cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan to provide financial support to clear Azerbaijani lands of mines. Whereas, on January 16, 2024, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center signed a memorandum of joint cooperation with the Azerbaijan National Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), to provide financial support to clear Azerbaijani lands of mines.
The Azerbaijani side extended its sincere thanks to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Saudi financial contribution to clearing mines in Azerbaijan, stressing the importance of this grant provided through the King Salman Relief Center, which will contribute – God willing – to the ongoing reconstruction and reconstruction work for the return of the displaced to their homes in the targeted areas.
The Advisor to the Royal Court and the General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, confirmed that Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Salman Relief Center, seeks to remove mines as part of its humanitarian work with the aim of improving the environment, protecting civilians, especially women and children, building capabilities, and providing a safe environment. Preserving public health and reducing the serious effects of mines on the individual and society. This came during his participation in the Third International Conference on Reducing the Environmental Impact of Landmines, held in the city of Baku, the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the slogan “Mitigating the Environmental Impact of Landmines: Mobilizing Resources for a Safe and Green Future” during May 30 and 31, 2024. He continued that in January Last, the King Salman Relief Center signed a memorandum of joint cooperation with the Azerbaijan National Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), to provide financial support to clear Azerbaijani lands of mines.
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– Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Riyadh
