Azerbaijan, NATO collaborate on mine contamination crisis

As part of the visit to Brussels, a delegation from Azerbaijan's Parliament held discussions with Eirini Lemos-Maniati, head of NATO’s Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non Proliferation Section, on bilateral cooperation.

The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation within the Partnership for Peace program, Azerbaijan's representation to NATO told Caliber.Az.

One of the key issues raised by the Azerbaijani side was the ongoing problem of mine contamination in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.

The sides exchanged prospects for future collaboration, particularly in the field of humanitarian demining. This issue has become a significant concern for Azerbaijan as it seeks to clear landmines and ensure the safety of its citizens in areas that were recently liberated.

The talks underscored the importance of continued dialogue between Azerbaijan and NATO, with both sides expressing interest in further expanding their cooperation to address this critical humanitarian challenge.

Armenia’s mining activities during its occupation had a devastating effect on Azerbaijani territories. Over 1.5 million landmines were planted, leaving Azerbaijan as one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. The minefields have continued to cause harm to Azerbaijani civilians. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War in November 2020, 382 Azerbaijanis have been affected by landmines, including 70 fatalities and 312 injuries. In total, more than 3,400 people have been impacted by landmines, with a significant portion being children and women.

Following Azerbaijan’s victory over Armenia in the war, the country initiated a demining campaign in the territories liberated from Armenian control. However, this process has faced challenges due to Armenia's refusal to provide accurate minefield maps. Azerbaijan has received partial maps for certain regions, such as Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan, which identified over 189,000 mines. Yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has stated that these maps are only about 25 per cent accurate, and experts estimate that the country will require nearly 30 years and $25 billion to fully address the mine contamination issue.

By Vafa Guliyeva