The landmine problem in Azerbaijan and NATO's financial and technical support in addressing this issue were discussed at the Alliance's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) meeting, Report informs, citing Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).
A delegation from ANAMA, led by Deputy Chairman of the Board Samir Poladov, participated in the meeting of the EAPC's Ad Hoc Working Group on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Mine Action.
During the meeting, attendees discussed the scale of Azerbaijan's landmine problem, the efforts made to address it, the support provided by various states and international organizations, and the importance of exchanging experiences and future cooperation prospects. The urgency of accelerating the establishment of the Garvand Trust Fund for clearing 400 hectares of land in the Garvand village of Aghdam district was emphasized.
ANAMA's delegation delivered a comprehensive presentation on the extent of the landmine threat in Azerbaijan, the challenges faced, and the measures taken to eliminate the problem.
The presentation noted that since November 2020, 379 Azerbaijanis have been killed or injured due to mine explosions. The presence of landmines seriously hinders the return of internally displaced persons to their native lands and the reconstruction and restoration work in those areas.
Additionally, the humanitarian, economic, and ecological consequences of landmines were also explained in detail.
Moreover, ANAMA shared information about the advanced technologies it employs in mine clearance, particularly mechanical demining equipment and new approaches applied in the field. A photo exhibition was organized to showcase the scale of Azerbaijan's landmine problem and the humanitarian demining process in the liberated territories.
As a part of the visit, ANAMA's delegation also held bilateral meetings with NATO officials to discuss the Alliance's existing expertise in addressing mine issues and potential financial and technical support to Azerbaijan. Additionally, ANAMA and NATO representatives visited Luxembourg to exchange experiences, learn about modern technologies, and discuss the application of new methods in mine action.