No country can solve the mine problem alone.
elchi reports that Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of ANAMA, stated this at the opening of the IV International Mine Action Conference.
Vugar Suleymanov noted that the theme of this year’s conference directly reflects Azerbaijan’s experience: “The restoration of cities in the liberated territories of our country does not begin with construction work, but first and foremost with ensuring the safety of the areas. Before families can return to their homes, settlements, the roads leading to them, water and energy lines, as well as the land surrounding those areas, must be cleared of mines and other explosive remnants of war. That is precisely why humanitarian mine action constitutes the initial stage of the recovery process. Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience in this field and, at the same time, organizes this platform to learn from the experiences of other countries. No country can solve the mine problem alone. International cooperation, exchange of technical expertise, donor support, innovation, and strong national initiative are essential to ensure the transition from contaminated areas to safe and sustainable recovery.”
Vugar Suleymanov stated that approximately 590 million US dollars have been allocated for mine clearance activities in Azerbaijan since November 2020.
“Unfortunately, only about 4 percent of this amount has been provided through international support, while the remaining part has been covered by the government of Azerbaijan. This clearly demonstrates our state’s commitment to ensuring a safe return, as well as the reconstruction and recovery process,” the ANAMA head noted.