(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Qabil Ashirov read more Azerbaijan is taking serious steps toward de-mining its
liberated territories, Azernews reports, citing Special
Representative of the Azerbaijani President for Shusha Aydin
Karimov.
He was speaking at an event to support increasing the capacity
of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA).
'Since the liberation of our territories, we have started the
de-mining process. Simultaneously, we have begun the construction
and creation of an energy network and other socially important
facilities. Shusha is an integral part of our country, and we will
continue to take all necessary steps to restore it as soon as
possible,' he said.
Another speaker, Sultan Hajiyev, Senior Consultant of the
Department for Work with NGOs, and Communications under the
Presidential Administration, stressed that Azerbaijan is ready to
expand cooperation with international organizations.
'Our country has a huge experience in the field of mine
clearance, which we are ready to share with other countries. Last
year, we proposed adding a humanitarian mine clearance paragraph to
the Sustainable Development Goals,' Sultan Hajiyev said.
Chairman of ANAMA Vugar Suleymanov gave information about
demining proses and noted that 64,000 hectares of land have been
cleared of explosives and mines in Azerbaijan's liberated
Karabakh.
'Other countries and international institutions support
Azerbaijan financially, as well as provide the country with
technology, equipment, and other means required in the de-mining
process. Moreover, ANAMA is ready to share its experience with
other countries,' he said.
Suleymanov added that 282 Azerbaijanis suffered from
Armenia-laid landmine explosions and 46 of them died.
UNDP (the United Nations Development Program) Resident
Representative in Azerbaijan Nuno Queirós stated that the new
landmine clearance project will cover all cities and villages
contaminated with landmines.
'This project is expected to cover around 20 liberated cities in
Azerbaijan. We are also working to improve the skills of personnel,
create maps, train dogs, as all these are important to support
Azerbaijan in its landmine clearance activities,' he added.
He said that the new landmine clearance project will allow over
3,000 former internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Azerbaijan to
their native lands.
He also noted that the funds of the European Union (EU) were
invested in the implementation of this project.
'We thank the EU for the assistance and the investment of 4.25
million euros, thanks to which more than 3,000 people will be able
to return to their homelands. This project is being implemented by
the UNDP in cooperation with ANAMA and the Government of
Azerbaijan,' Queirós added.
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