NGOs take part in demining operations in liberated areas, says top official

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been involved in efforts to clear mine-contaminated lands, said Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, during an event held within WUF13 in Baku.

He noted that without the views of civil society and public opinion, the government cannot implement its sustainable agenda, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

“In the liberated territories, 10,000 square kilometres of land are contaminated with mines. Today, by carrying out demining operations, we are writing history on these lands,” Hajiyev emphasised.

He added that the Azerbaijani government attaches special importance to cooperation with, and the development and strengthening of, NGO and civil society capacities. For this purpose, a state agency has been established to support civil society institutions.

“The government of Azerbaijan also provides grants to ensure their access to financial resources and organises various training programs on institutional development and capacity building. Civil society institutions in the country are an integral part of government development programs, and we involve their knowledge and experience in the implementation of Azerbaijan’s Sustainable Development Goals,” Hajiyev said.

By Jeyhun Aghazada