BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Eliminating the
mine threat is one of the key conditions for the reconstruction of
liberated territories and the safe return of formerly internally
displaced persons, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.
He noted that the 4th International Mine Action Conference
themed “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards
of Excellence for Safe Settlements” is of great importance in terms
of drawing the international community’s attention to the scale of
the landmine problem facing Azerbaijan.
“It would be wrong to view humanitarian demining solely as a
technical or security measure. This process is directly linked to
the reconstruction of cities and villages, the restoration of
infrastructure, the resumption of economic activity, and the safe
return of people to their homelands. If an area is unsafe, it is
also impossible to establish a sustainable living environment and
economic activity there. In this regard, demining is one of the
fundamental prerequisites for Azerbaijan’s post-conflict recovery,”
the political analyst said.
Azer Garaev noted that at the opening of the conference, Hikmet
Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the
Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration,
emphasized in his address to the conference participants that
demining is a key prerequisite for creating safe settlements,
carrying out reconstruction work, and enabling people to return to
their homeland.
“A very important point raised by Hikmet Hajiyev in President
Ilham Aliyev’s address is that it is impossible to speak of the
full restoration of territories without eliminating the mine
threat. The essence of the approach highlighted by the head of
state is that until the land is cleared of mines and explosive
remnants of war, it is impossible to fully restore cities,
villages, and settlements; ensure the safe operation of schools and
hospitals; return people to their homeland with dignity; and
guarantee sustainable economic activity. “This clearly demonstrates
why demining is of strategic importance on Azerbaijan’s
post-conflict agenda,” he noted.
Politoloq bildirib ki, Prezident İlham Əliyevin müraciətində
təqdim olunan rəqəmlər Azərbaycanın qarşılaşdığı mina probleminin
miqyasını daha aydın təsəvvür etməyə imkan verir.
“According to preliminary estimates cited in the head of state’s
address, mines and unexploded ordnance affect more than 13% of
territory of Azerbaijan is affected by mines and unexploded
ordnance. This indicates a fairly extensive area. Given the scale
of the recovery efforts underway in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur,
it is clear how much in terms of resources, time, and technical
capabilities is required to eliminate the mine threat,” Azer
Garayev said.
The expert noted that the most serious aspect of the landmine
problem is the constant threat it poses to human life.
“According to statistics presented in President Ilham Aliyev’s
address, 437 Azerbaijani citizens have been affected by landmines
and explosive devices since 2020. Seventy-three of them were
killed, and 364 sustained serious injuries. Since the beginning of
Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, more than 3,500 of our
citizens have been affected by landmines. The key point here is
that, although the war has ended, the threat it poses to people’s
lives persists in the form of landmines. In this sense, landmines
are one of the most serious and long-term humanitarian consequences
of the conflict,” the political analyst emphasized.
According to Azer Garayev, the inaccurate and incomplete maps of
mined areas provided by Armenia further complicate efforts to
resolve the issue.
He noted that the President’s statement places particular
emphasis on the fact that mines and mine traps have been discovered
not only at former military positions but also along roads, near
residential areas, in cemeteries, on farmland, in forests, along
riverbanks, and in other civilian areas.
“This fact shows that the problem is not only military in nature
but also clearly humanitarian. We are talking about a threat that
prevents people from living normal lives, moving about freely,
engaging in agriculture, returning home, and rebuilding their
lives. The presence of mines and booby traps, especially in
civilian areas, significantly complicates efforts to ensure
people’s safety in the post-conflict period,” the expert said.
The political analyst believes that the scale of the demining
efforts carried out by Azerbaijan at its own expense under these
difficult conditions should be assessed separately: “According to
information presented in President Ilham Aliyev’s address, to date,
more than 298 thousand hectares of land have been cleared, and
260,147 mines and unexploded ordnance have been detected and
neutralized.. These are quite significant figures, demonstrating
how Azerbaijan has mobilized substantial resources for the demining
process. At the same time, the overall scale of mine contamination
shows that there is still a great deal of work ahead.”
Azer Garayev stated that the pace of the demining process
directly affects the pace of the “Great Return” and the large-scale
construction work being carried out in the liberated territories:
“Today, in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, cities and villages are
being rebuilt, and roads, tunnels, airports, energy infrastructure,
schools, hospitals, and settlements are being constructed. People
are gradually returning to their homeland. However, the starting
point for all these processes is safe land. It is impossible to
build settlements or infrastructure, or to safely return people to
a territory that has not been cleared of landmines.”
The political analyst added that President Ilham Aliyev’s
statement linking demining to broader national priorities also
sends an important message: “Here, demining is presented not as a
separate process, but as part of a unified system that includes
reconstruction, safe return, agricultural revival, infrastructure
development, environmental protection, social reintegration, and
economic recovery. This approach is one of the key features of
Azerbaijan’s post-conflict recovery model. First, the security of
the territory is ensured; then infrastructure is built, economic
opportunities are created, and a stable livelihood for the
population is guaranteed.”
According to Azer Garayev, the scale of the problem facing
Azerbaijan also requires more active and practical involvement from
the international community: “Azerbaijan continues its demining
efforts, mobilizing significant financial, technical, and human
resources. However, such large-scale mine contamination also
requires international cooperation. This is not just a matter of
financial assistance. The introduction of modern demining
technologies, the provision of specialized equipment, the transfer
of technology and expertise, the training of specialists, and the
establishment of mechanisms for long-term partnership can make a
significant contribution to accelerating the process.”
The political analyst emphasized that holding international
conferences on demining in Baku demonstrates that Azerbaijan has
placed the issue of landmines on the international agenda not only
as a national issue, but also as a global humanitarian and security
issue.
According to him, Azerbaijan’s message is that the end of the
conflict in political and military terms does not automatically
mean the elimination of its humanitarian consequences: “As long as
there are landmines on Earth, the danger of war also persists in
some form. Therefore, in the post-conflict period, the
international community’s attention must be focused not only on
political processes but also on ensuring the actual safety of
people.”
Azer Garayev believes that Azerbaijan’s simultaneous
implementation of demining, reconstruction, and the “Great Return”
could serve as a practical model for other countries facing similar
challenges in the future: “President Ilham Aliyev’s address also
states that Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience with
countries and regions facing similar consequences of conflict. The
key feature of Azerbaijan’s approach is managing demining, urban
planning, infrastructure, social services, economic activity, and
the return of people as a single, integrated process. This is a
comprehensive approach to post-conflict reconstruction.”
According to the political scientist, this shows that the main
message of the 4th International Conference on Mine Action is not
limited to presenting the landmine problem facing Azerbaijan.
"The key question is under what conditions safe and sustainable
housing can be built. The example of Azerbaijan shows that the
first prerequisite for this is the safety of the territory. Once
the mine threat is eliminated, people return, economic activity
expands, infrastructure projects are implemented, and normal life
is restored. In this regard, demining is not merely the removal of
explosive ordnance from the ground. It is the foundation for the
Great Return, economic revival, and the building of a safe,
sustainable future in the liberated territories,” political analyst
Azer Garayev concluded.
