Presidential Representative: The fight against the mine threat should be perceived as an investment in the sustainability of peace

Azerbaijan expresses its sincere gratitude to every country and organization that has supported our mine action efforts to date. We regard this as a sign of friendship and solidarity shown both to the directly affected people and to Azerbaijan as a whole. However, the scale of international support still remains very limited. About ninety-five percent of the funding is provided from Azerbaijan's own state resources. Only about 5% comes from external sources. We are convinced that this proportion and the existing imbalance can and must change.

As reported by Oxu.Az, this was stated by the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan Elchin Amirbayov at the 4th International Conference on Mine Action, dedicated to the theme "Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe Communities."

"In this regard, I would like to put forward several proposals on how this can be implemented in practice," the diplomat continued.

"First, it is about making mine action part of the international peace agenda. When we talk about peace in the South Caucasus, we discuss borders, communications, trade, and confidence-building. There should be one more item on the agenda: eliminating the physical legacy of war. Mine action should be seen as an investment in sustainable peace.

Second, in addition to large-scale national efforts, a long-term international funding mechanism for Azerbaijan's mine action must be established. This is not just about emergency assistance and individual projects. What is needed is predictable, multi-year funding that will enable Azerbaijan to plan, recruit and train specialists, invest in equipment, and accelerate the pace of land clearance. We should aim not merely at managing the problem, but at funding its solution. The issue of predictable funding was particularly emphasized by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his welcoming address to the conference participants, delivered yesterday.

Third, a stronger international technology partnership must be established. Artificial intelligence, drones, satellite imagery, advanced survey and assessment technologies, mechanical demining, and information technologies can significantly increase both the speed and safety of mine clearance. Azerbaijan intends to become a regional center of excellence in demining and is open to cooperation in this direction.

And last but by no means least is making mine action an element of confidence-building in the region. Humanitarian issues can sometimes create opportunities for practical cooperation even when political issues remain sensitive. Eliminating the consequences of war is one such area. It is about saving people's lives. It concerns the future, and that is exactly how it should be approached," the Presidential Representative emphasized.

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