Azerbaijan drew attention to the issues of mine threat and illicit arms trafficking in the liberated territories during the thematic discussions on conventional arms within the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
elchi reports that this was stated by the first secretary of the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN, Maksad Huseynov, during the discussions.
According to him, for about three decades, a part of Azerbaijan’s territories under occupation has turned into a “gray zone” that creates favorable conditions for illegal activities, including the illicit trafficking of conventional arms, ammunition, and related materials.
It was noted that after the restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, border control in these areas has been strengthened, thereby reducing the risk of illicit arms trafficking.
During the discussions, special attention was also paid to the scale of the mine threat in Azerbaijan. It was stated that over the past three decades, more than 3,500 people have fallen victim to mines and unexploded ordnance from the war.
Specifically, since November 2020, 443 Azerbaijani citizens, including women and children, have been killed or injured as a result of mine explosions. It was emphasized that the number of victims continues to rise.
It was highlighted that the contamination of territories with mines not only poses a threat to people’s lives but also hinders restoration and reconstruction efforts, limits the use of agricultural lands, and complicates the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons to their homelands.
It was stated that strengthening international solidarity, expanding partnership, and increasing assistance to humanitarian demining activities are crucial for eliminating the mine threat.