Details added: first version posted on 10:20 BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. The 4th International Mine Action Conference on “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe Settlements”, jointly organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the UN Office in Azerbaijan, has concluded, Trend’s correspondent reports from the event. Speaking in the second day of the event, the Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments, Elchin Amirbayov, noted that this year’s conference is dedicated to humanitarian demining for safe settlement and reconstruction.
However, in my remarks, I would like to approach this topic from a slightly different perspective—that of the role demining plays as part of peacemaking.” The main message here is very simple: as long as the physical consequences of the war continue to threaten people’s lives, restrict mobility, slow economic activity, and hinder the return of former internally displaced persons, peace cannot be considered fully established. Peace is not created by political agreements alone. Peace must be visible on the ground, in real life.
But one of the biggest obstacles to making peace visible in Azerbaijan lies underground. The Head of the European Union Delegation and Ambassador of the European Union to Azerbaijan, Marijana Kujundžić, emphasized that demining creates the necessary conditions for people to return and for homes and public infrastructure to be rebuilt. Kujundžić noted that demining is not merely the clearance of contaminated areas of mines.
She pointed out that no one should have to live in fear of the ground beneath their feet. These discussions allow us to exchange experiences on how demining activities can more effectively contribute to the reconstruction of cities, how standards can be improved, and how partnerships can help achieve more effective results on the ground. Ultimately, the goal is not simply to clear areas of mines.
The goal is to restore security. It’s not just about eliminating risks. It’s about allowing people to return.
It’s not just about opening up areas for use. It’s about rebuilding communities,” she said. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Anar Akhundov, noted that humanitarian demining activities are one of the top priorities of Azerbaijan’s state policy.
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