President Aliyev puts demining at heart of Azerbaijan’s post-conflict revival

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev underscored that humanitarian demining must remain at the foundation of post-conflict recovery, stressing that safe and sustainable reconstruction is impossible without clearing land of mines and explosive remnants of war.

Speaking to participants of the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku, he highlighted Azerbaijan’s mine contamination challenge, the country’s large-scale demining efforts and the need for stronger international support to accelerate clearance and enable the safe return of citizens to their ancestral lands, Caliber.Az reports via state media.

Aliyev placed Azerbaijan’s mine action efforts within the broader international context, pointing to the series of mine action conferences hosted by the country in close cooperation with the United Nations as an important platform for confronting one of the most serious humanitarian, security and development challenges of the present day.

He warned that mines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten human life and security in many parts of the world. Long after conflicts are over, he pointed out, explosive hazards continue to take lives, injure civilians, damage infrastructure and slow reconstruction projects.

“In this regard, humanitarian demining is an imperative commitment for safe communities,” Aliyev stressed.

Turning to post-conflict urban recovery, the Azerbaijani leader emphasised that reconstruction must go beyond rebuilding physical infrastructure and include the restoration of safety and confidence.

“Urban recovery in post-conflict territories requires along with reconstruction of buildings, roads and public infrastructure the restoration of safety and confidence,” he said.

The president underscored the fundamental role of mine clearance in making recovery possible, noting that contaminated land can prevent entire communities from returning to normal life.

“No city, village or settlement can be fully rebuilt, no school or hospital can function safely, no family can return with dignity and no economic activity can develop sustainably unless the land is free from mines and explosive remnants of war. Therefore, humanitarian demining stands at the very foundation of urban recovery and the creation of safe human settlements,” he added.

Aliyev described Azerbaijan’s experience as one of the most severe manifestations of the global mine problem. As a result of nearly 30 years of occupation of its territories by Armenia, he stressed, Azerbaijan has become “one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world.”

Citing preliminary estimates, Aliyev said more than 13% of Azerbaijan’s territory is affected by mines and unexploded ordnance, with the liberated territories of Garabagh and East Zangezur remaining heavily contaminated and posing serious obstacles to reconstruction, economic activity, safe mobility and the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands.

The president then highlighted the human cost of the contamination, noting that since the end of the Patriotic War in 2020, 437 Azerbaijani citizens have fallen victim to mine and explosive ordnance incidents. The victims include civilians, servicemen, deminers, journalists and persons involved in reconstruction activities, resulting in 73 deaths and 364 severe injuries.

“Overall, since the beginning of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, more than 3500 of our citizens have suffered from mines. Among them are children, women and other civilians whose lives have been tragically affected by this hidden threat,” Aliyev said.

The president also pointed to the difficulties created by the minefield maps provided by Armenia, stressing that they have been largely inaccurate and incomplete.

He noted that mines and booby traps have been found not only in former military positions, but also “along roads, near residential areas, in cemeteries, agricultural lands, forests, riverbanks and other civilian locations.”

Despite these challenges, Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s determination to complete the demining process and facilitate the return of its citizens.

“Nevertheless, Azerbaijan remains firmly committed to overcoming these challenges and ensuring the safe, dignified and sustainable return of its citizens to their ancestral lands,” he said.

Against this backdrop, Aliyev described humanitarian demining as “an integral and crucial component of Azerbaijan’s reconstruction and rehabilitation program in the liberated territories.”

He explained that the rebuilding of cities and villages, restoration of infrastructure, development of transport and energy networks, revival of agriculture and creation of new residential settlements are being carried out “in close and precise coordination with mine action activities.”

Aliyev highlighted the scale of the ongoing clearance operations across the liberated territories.

“To date, more than 298 thousand hectares of land have been cleared, and 260,147 mines and unexploded ordnance have been detected and neutralized. Azerbaijan introduces advanced technologies, innovative approaches and modern management systems to increase the speed, safety and effectiveness of mine clearance,” he said.

The president placed these efforts within a broader national development framework, emphasising that mine action is directly linked with Azerbaijan’s wider priorities.

“It supports reconstruction, safe return, agricultural revival, infrastructure development, environmental protection, social reintegration and economic recovery,” he said.

Aliyev further connected mine action with the implementation of the National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development: Azerbaijan 2030, particularly the priority of the Great Return to the liberated territories.

“Within Great Return program cities and villages destroyed during the occupation are being rebuilt, modern infrastructure, roads, tunnels, airports, energy facilities, schools, hospitals, cultural monuments and residential settlements are being restored. The practical results of this policy are already visible. The practical results of this policy are already visible,” Aliyev stressed.

He noted that almost 40,000 former internally displaced persons have returned to their homes in the liberated territories, while the number of people currently living in Garabagh and East Zangezur has exceeded 90,000.

Beyond physical reconstruction, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s effort to establish an integrated model of post-conflict recovery and governance.

“Azerbaijan is developing and applying advanced models of post-conflict reconstruction, rehabilitation and governance which combine mine action, urban planning, infrastructure development, environmental restoration, digital solutions, social services, public administration and the return of former internally displaced persons within a single coordinated framework,” he said.

“In a short period of time, territories that were devastated and depopulated during the occupation are being transformed into places of life, work, education and opportunity,” Aliyev added.

Acknowledging that “many challenges remain,” the president argued that the results achieved so far demonstrate the effectiveness of Azerbaijan’s integrated approach.

“We are ready to share this experience with countries and regions facing similar consequences of conflict,” he said.

Aliyev added that Azerbaijan believes “the Azerbaijani model of demining, reconstruction and return may be of practical interest to many partners across the world.”

He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s initiatives to promote mine action at the international level, pointing to the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum, successfully hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku.

“The importance of safe and resilient settlements and demining was at the center of global discussions during the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum, successfully hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku,” Aliyev noted.

He further drew attention to Azerbaijan’s decision to elevate humanitarian demining within its sustainable development agenda.

“In addition, our country has declared humanitarian demining as the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal and continues to advocate for the recognition of this issue as a global priority,” he said.

Aliyev then focused on the need for stronger international involvement, stressing that Azerbaijan cannot be expected to shoulder the consequences of the mine problem alone. “The mine problem requires stronger international solidarity,” he emphasised.

Azerbaijan carries out the main burden of both humanitarian demining and the overall reconstruction and rehabilitation process in the liberated territories through its own national resources, the president noted.

At the same time, he stressed that the scale of contamination, the urgency of reconstruction and the humanitarian importance of safe return demand broader and more practical international support.

“Predictable funding, modern equipment, technical expertise, training, technology transfer and long-term partnerships are essential for accelerating mine clearance and reducing the suffering caused by mines,” Aliyev said.

Concluding his remarks, the president expressed confidence that the conference would serve as “a valuable platform for open dialogue, exchange of experience and development of practical cooperation.”

He stressed that the discussions held in Baku would contribute to “strengthening international mine action standards, promoting innovation, supporting safe urban recovery and advancing our common objective of building safe, resilient and sustainable communities.”