Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5. On 4 April 2025, the
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United
Nations, in cooperation with the Center of Analysis of
International Relations, held a briefing titled “Saving Lives
through Humanitarian Mine Action in Azerbaijan” at the UN
Headquarters in New York. The event, held on the occasion of the
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action,
brought together key stakeholders in the field of mine action to
discuss the humanitarian and developmental challenges posed by
landmines and explosive remnants of war in Azerbaijan, Permanent
Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations says,
Trend reports.
The event commenced with opening remarks by Ambassador Tofig
Musayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to
the United Nations. Ambassador Musayev highlighted the severe
impact of landmines contamination in Azerbaijan caused by the
thirty years of the Armenian occupation, and emphasized the
importance of concerted efforts to eradicate the landmine threat.
Following the opening remarks, a series of short videos showcasing
Azerbaijan’s mine action initiatives were presented, shedding light
on the scale of the contamination and the urgent need for
international support in demining efforts.
The keynote address was delivered by Ambassador Farid Shafiyev,
Chairman of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR
Center). Ambassador Shafiyev gave a presentation illustrating the
scale of landmine contamination left after the Armenian occupation
of Azerbaijani territories, as well as the government’s efforts to
address the challenges and threats posed by landmines and
unexploded ordnance. He provided information on the work carried
out by the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA)
and highlighted the government’s initiatives at both national and
international levels.
The discussion panel featured distinguished experts, including
Rita Gunaryati Lubis, Deputy Director of the United Nations Mine
Action Service, who provided insights into global mine action
strategies and the UN’s role in supporting affected countries, Anar
Mutallimov, Head of the Department of Military and Political
Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
who elaborated on Azerbaijan’s national mine action strategy and
ongoing demining initiatives, Mr. Devanand Ramiah, Head of the
Crisis Readiness, Response and Recovery Team, Crisis Bureau of the
United Nations Development Programme, who discussed the
humanitarian and developmental implications of mine contamination
and the UNDP’s role in supporting Azerbaijan in this regard, Ms.
Elise Becker, Executive Director of the Marshall Legacy Institute
(MLI), who highlighted the role of partnerships and innovative
approaches, such as mine detection dogs, in accelerating mine
clearance efforts and decades-long partnership between the MLI and
Azerbaijan.
The discussion segment was followed by remarks from the floor,
where Ambassadors and representatives from the permanent missions
of Italy, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Türkiye, Lao PDR,
Venezuela, Norway, Croatia and Colombia, as well as the Permanent
Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), shared
their perspectives on the subject-matter issue.