Azerbaijani delegation meets Laotian officials to discuss mine action collaboration

A delegation from Azerbaijan, including Elchin Amirbayov, Representative of the Azerbaijani President for Special Assignments, Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), and Samir Poladov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of ANAMA, recently held discussions in Laos.

The Azerbaijani officials met with Saleumxay Kommasith, Laos' Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to explore collaborative efforts in mine action, ANAMA told Caliber.Az.

Additionally, they engaged with Bounpheng Sisavath, the acting director of Laos' National Regulatory Authority for Mine Action, and representatives from the Laos National Program on Unexploded Ordnance.

During these meetings, the delegation exchanged experiences in demining, discussed best practices, and explored the possibility of joint training programs. They highlighted the extent of mine contamination in Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories and the ongoing efforts to address this issue. The delegation also stressed the importance of international support and expanding global partnerships to tackle the mine threat effectively.

After achieving victory over Armenia in the Second Karabakh War in early November 2020, Azerbaijan launched the process of demining the territories that Armenia had been holding under occupation for almost three decades.

Despite extensive efforts, demining operations faced many challenges due to Armenia’s refusal to hand over maps displaying the locations of the landmines.

Azerbaijan obtained minefield maps of the once-occupied Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan districts from Armenia, which reportedly identify the coordinates of 189,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. Armenia also provided the Azerbaijani side with mine maps of other liberated territories of Azerbaijan. In exchange for maps, Azerbaijan released dozens of Armenian saboteurs detained in Azerbaijani territory after the war. However, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said the accuracy of these maps did not exceed 25 per cent.

AMAMA reported that the maps provided by Armenia were just two per cent effective in mine action. According to the Azerbaijani government data, international experts estimate that Azerbaijan needs nearly 30 years and $25 billion to solve issues related to demining.