Ambassador: Biden must press Armenia to hand over minefield maps

Months after Azerbaijan and Armenia signed an agreement that halted the recent 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian leaders continue to condemn innocent civilians to death by refusing to share maps of the minefields in the recently liberated Azerbaijani territories, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov said in his article published in Defense One, Report informs.

According to the Article, since November, more than 20 Azerbaijani civilians and service members have been killed and 85 wounded by mine explosions in Nagorno-Karabakh, including booby traps buried by the retreating Armenian military.

Mr. Suleymanov draws attention to Armenia’s refusal to solve this crisis diplomatically: “For months, President Aliyev has pointed to Armenia’s refusal to release the maps despite the government’s obligation under international humanitarian law to disclose the information. Azerbaijan has also raised its concern at the United Nations and with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In a February 24 letter to the UN Secretary-General, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that Armenia’s lack of a response “seriously questions that country’s sincerity for a normalization of relations with Azerbaijan.” The Foreign Minister rightly notes that human costs inflicted by these mines constitute a war crime. Recently, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs also emphasized the need to exchange data to ensure effective demining.”

The silence of the international community has allowed Armenia to keep maps of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines secret. President Joe Biden and his Administration must hold Armenian political and military leadership accountable for withholding maps of mined liberated territories. The existing lethal threat to civilians impedes our ability to rebuild communities torn apart by war and undermines efforts for inclusive economic development, lasting peace, and a safe return for refugees.

The original version of the article is available at https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/04/biden-must-press-armenia-hand-over-minefield-maps/173573/