State Department: US ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in demining

Director of the Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US State Department Mark Cameron has said that the US is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in demining activities.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Chairman of the Management Board of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), Report informs.

Cameron emphasized that they are interested in long-term cooperation in various directions of humanitarian demining activities in order to contribute to the safe return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands.

During the meeting, a presentation was made on the history of the ANAMA's establishment, directions of activity, the extent of the mine threat on the liberated territories, the obstacles it poses to restoration and reconstruction works, as well as the serious contamination of destroyed settlements and civilian objects with mines.

Cameron's attention was drawn to the direction of awareness-raising about the danger of explosive ammunition, which is a significant hindrance to people's life and safety and training for recruits involved in demining operations, as well as the ANAMA's willingness to share the positive experience with other affected countries.

Suleymanov noted that ANAMA hopes to further expand effective cooperation with various US institutions.