BAKU

Azerbaijan has destroyed more than 48,000 mines and unexploded ordnances laid by the Armenian army in the regions liberated from occupation.

Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) and the engineering unit of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, with support from Emergency Situations Ministry, Border Services Command, and Special Mine Clearance teams of Turkish Armed Forces, continue to clear the mines in the Karabakh region and surrounding provinces.

Since Nov. 10, 2020, a total of 18,302 hectares of land has been swept by demining experts. As many as 22,230 unexploded ordnances, 17,426 anti-personnel mines, and 8,755 anti-tank mines had been detected and destroyed by Oct. 15, 2021.

Stating that demining efforts continue ceaselessly in the region, ANAMA Chairperson Vugar Suleymanov told Anadolu Agency that highways, railways, and areas of facilities or settlements are a priority in mine clearance efforts.

“We exchange experience with Turkish organizations and will expand cooperation with Turkey in the field of demining,” said Suleymanov.

Landmines are a grave violation of essential norms and principles of international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

As many as 33 Azerbaijani citizens, including seven soldiers and 26 civilians, were killed and 139 injured due to the mines laid by Armenia during the occupation period.

Liberation of Karabakh

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

On Nov. 10 last year, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

On Jan. 11, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on Karabakh.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

Prior to this victory, about 20% of Azerbaijan's territory had been under illegal occupation for nearly 30 years.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara