Azerbaijan may become a regional hub in the field of demining, Devanand Ramiah, Director of Crisis Readiness, Response, and Recovery in the Crisis Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), told Report.
Participating in a briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on Azerbaijan's mine problem, Ramiah spoke about the country's regional leadership in demining and the Training Center of Excellence for Demining initiative.
Ramiah stated that with the successful implementation of the project supported by the UN, Azerbaijan could become a major center for international experience and knowledge sharing in this field: "The project is still in the assessment phase, and work on technical details continues. Azerbaijan has accumulated serious experience in this field for years, and this center will become the main platform for sharing that experience, developing it, and coordinating real work in the field," he noted.
Emphasizing that the UN Secretary-General also considers demining a priority issue for the organization, Ramiah stated that this work is directly related to sustainable development: "Demining is a fundamental condition for development. UNDP plays an active role in this field not only in Azerbaijan but in many regions of the world. Economic and social development is not possible without eliminating the mine threat."
Recalling UNDP's 30-year cooperation with the Azerbaijani government, Ramiah also mentioned the 25-year partnership history with the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).
To the question about why information about UNDP's activities in the region is limited, Ramiah responded: "Most reports and information are published on our official website, but some communication materials are prepared and distributed directly by country offices. For this reason, information about some regions is shared in a more limited way."
