Ambassador: Azerbaijan to host side event focusing on environmental consequences of landmines on margins of COP29

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Rahman Mustafayev, informed the European audience about the humanitarian and environmental aspects of the mine problem in Azerbaijan, the progress of mine clearance work, the activities of the National Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), other organizations involved in this process, and the government's efforts to support the victims of Armenia’s mine policy and their social rehabilitation, Report informs.

An extensive interview with the ambassador entitled “Demining, reconstruction of the liberated territories, and safe return of IDPs are our main priorities” was published in Diplomatic Magazine.

The Ambassador spoke in detail about Azerbaijan's cooperation with other countries and international organizations in solving the problem of mine clearance, noting that since the start of large-scale humanitarian demining at the end of 2020, foreign assistance has accounted for only 5% of the resources used for this purpose.

The interview highlighted Azerbaijan's efforts to attract the attention of the international community to the problem of mined areas in other countries of the world and cooperation with the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement on this important issue.

“The negative impacts of landmines on ecosystems are significant and multifaceted. Landmines cause significant environmental degradation by contaminating soil and water resources with explosive residues, heavy metals, and other toxic substances, leading to pollution and disruption of natural ecosystems. Landmines restrict access to large areas of land, leading to habitat destruction and fragmentation.

“That is why, as part of its commitment to addressing environmental concerns related to landmines, Azerbaijan plans to host a side event focusing on the environmental consequences of landmines on the margins of the COP29 meeting in November 2024, integrating the landmine issue into this important international discourse and emphasizing the need to address the environmental repercussions of landmine contamination,” the ambassador said.