BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Demining creates
the conditions for investment in infrastructure and long-term
economic growth. Anar Akhundov, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of
Economy, said, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


Akhundov made the announcement in his address at the 4th
International Mine Action Conference themed “Humanitarian Demining
for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe
Settlements.”


He noted that humanitarian demining activities are one of the
top priorities of Azerbaijan’s state policy.


“Azerbaijan is working closely with the United Nations to
advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The transportation infrastructure has been developed, and the
return of residents to their ancestral lands has become a reality.
For Azerbaijan, demining is not an end in itself.”


The ultimate goal is to safely return demined lands to
productive economic use, create conditions for people to live and
for businesses to operate, and generate sustainable economic value
for investments,” he added.







On September 2, the 4th International Mine Action Conference,
themed “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards
of Excellence for Safe Settlements,” was organized jointly by the
Agency for Mine Action of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) and
the United Nations Office in Azerbaijan.


The event will feature panel discussions on the topics “Demining
as the Foundation for Urban Recovery,” “International Cooperation
and Donor Mechanisms to Support Safe Demining in Azerbaijan,” and
“Humanitarian Demining for Sustainable Community Development.”


The conference will wrap up today. The conference statement is
scheduled to be adopted at the conclusion of the event.