Tazeen Akhtar
President of Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev has presented the latest facts and figures of Armenian laid mines at newly liberated territories of his country. Mentionable and worth recalling here is, Azerbaijan is one of the worst hit countries due to land mines installed by the enemy country in the World.
12 percent of the country’s territory is polluted by 1.5 million mines and an unknown number of unexploded ordnances. Since the end of the war in 2020, 361 citizens, mostly civilians, have fallen victim to mine explosions, resulting in 68 deaths and 293 severe injuries. Overall, since the beginning of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, over 3400 citizens have suffered from mines, including 358 children and 38 women.
Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Kalbachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Zangilan are the main territories where Armenia fixed the land mines while retreating from these illegally occupied regions of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan, so far, has cleared some 140 thousand hectares of 119,946 mines and unexploded ordnances. Yet, mined areas stretch far beyond that. Mines are easy to plant but mine clearance is a much more difficult and complex process.
The President shared the figures in his addressed to the participants of the Conference themed “Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future,” in Baku on 29 May 2024.
The conference was organized in the run-up to the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP29, which Azerbaijan will host only because the land mines are not only taking lives of innocent people but damaging the environment and fertility of the soil as well.
Armenia , unfortunately , has been adopting every cowardly and tricky way to hit and hert Azerbaijan for last 30 years in general and from 2020 to 2023 in particular for Azerbaijan thwarted Armenian aggression again and again to extreme disappointment of this irresponsible state of South Caucasus. Armenia created new mine zones stretching up to 500 kilometers, new mines had been planted mainly in the territories that Armenia failed to keep in her illegal occupation.
The leader of Azerbaijan rightly said, “Today, mines and unexploded ordnance continue to remain an acute problem posing a threat to people’s security across many countries. Along with jeopardizing human life, the mines seriously challenge socioeconomic development, damage the environment and cultural heritage, hinder post-war recovery and development initiatives, and ultimately impede the Sustainable Development Goals, even decades after wars have ended.”
“While mine explosions pose a threat to people’s lives and put their very right to live into question, they also significantly damage the environment. Plastic waste resulting from an explosion entails environmental consequences by negatively impacting soil structure. Mines that remain unearthed for a long time can lead to hazardous chemical reactions. The soil not in use due to the threat of mines is subjected to erosion and abrasion, President noted in the context of upcoming COP29 at Baku.
President mindfully presented the case of Azerbaijan before the participants of the conference. He briefed that his country is bearing the brunt of a 30-year-long conflict and occupation of its lands by Armenia, suffering from a mine pollution problem, and stands among the most mine-polluted countries of the world. He quoted the facts and figures mentioned above.
The height of irresponsibility of Armenia can be seen in her continued reluctance to providing the maps of the mines that can surely help the victim country to save lives from further loss.President added that the steady increase in the number of mine victims is associated with Armenia’s refusal to provide accurate maps of the mines it planted across Azerbaijan’s territory, and with placing booby traps along the roads, cemeteries, and other civilian facilities located behind the former line of contact.
“Challenges we face on de-mining also hamper our development and recovery efforts, creating serious obstacles for the return of 800 thousand formerly displaced persons. Humanitarian de-mining is among the top priorities of Azerbaijan’s state policies, and the foundation of that was laid by the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people – Heydar Aliyev, President said.
Today, the primary body in charge of humanitarian de mining in Azerbaijan is the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan – ANAMA. In a short span of time, Azerbaijan has mobilized all its strength and is using the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies available worldwide.
President Ilham Aliyev shed light on the measures taken so far for clearance of mines. He said, “We are implementing measures to enhance efficiency in mine clearance, and our capabilities have significantly improved compared to previous years. All-women de-mining teams have also been deployed since last year.
Sensitizing the international community about their contribution in this human safety task, President said, “Our country is implementing humanitarian de-mining at its own expense. Adequate political and practical support from the international community for mitigating the humanitarian consequences of mines and de-mining the affected areas are of utmost significance.”
“While addressing its mine problem, Azerbaijan has simultaneously launched multiple initiatives to rivet the international community’s attention to this matter. As you may know, last year our country has officially declared humanitarian de-mining as the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal, and we are working to ensure the recognition of this issue as the UN’s Global 18th SDG, President continued.
In the meantime, Azerbaijan has launched an initiative to establish a Special Contact Group on Humanitarian De-mining within the Non-Aligned Movement. The Contact Group has begun operating since last September.
From Armenian Aggression to Azerbaijani Victory / Lessons to Learn- Tazeen Akhtar
