ANAMA boosts demining efforts with EU, UN collaborations in Brussels

A delegation led by Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), conducted meetings in Brussels with representatives from the European Union, the UN Development Program, and ambassadors from several EU countries.

The visit was part of their working trip to Belgium, ANAMA told Caliber.Az.

During discussions with the EU working group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the focus was on addressing the issue of mines in Azerbaijan's formerly occupied territories, outlining Azerbaijan's tasks in overcoming this challenge and exploring opportunities to enhance international cooperation in this regard.

Vugar Suleymanov expressed appreciation to the EU, UNDP, and supportive states for their efforts in assisting Azerbaijan with the mine problem. The meeting also highlighted the role of the upcoming Center of Excellence for demining in Azerbaijan, which is being established with support from UNDP and the EU.

Additionally, the ANAMA delegation visited DronePort to gain insights from Belgium's expertise in using drones for mapping and surveying minefields.

Notably, Belgium has allocated 250,000 euros to support demining efforts in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

The persistent threat of landmines poses a significant obstacle to the repopulation of the liberated Azerbaijani lands. According to Azerbaijani government data, international experts estimate that it will take nearly 30 years and $25 billion to address demining-related issues.

Since the cessation of hostilities, the Azerbaijani government has been actively engaged in demining operations in the liberated territories to facilitate the return of internally displaced people to their homes. Despite significant efforts, these operations encountered challenges due to the inaccuracy of maps indicating the locations of landmines presented by Armenia.