BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 2. Armenia's
failure to provide complete and accurate mine maps continues to
slow down clearance operations and delay the safe return of former
internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Samir Sharifov said, Trend's correspondent reports from the
event.


He made the remark during the panel discussion titled
"International Cooperation and Donor Mechanisms to Support Safe
Recovery through Mine Action in Azerbaijan" at the 4th
International Mine Action Conference on "Humanitarian Demining for
Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe
Settlements".


The official pointed out that Azerbaijan remains one of the
countries most affected by anti-personnel mines and unexploded
ordnance of war.


"This contamination is a result of nearly 30 years of occupation
of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. The planting of mines has
continued even after the conflict ended in November 2020. The
widespread and often unmarked placement of mines, as well as the
lack of reliable information about mines, further complicates the
situation.


Armenia's failure to provide complete and accurate mine maps
continues to slow down clearance operations and delay the safe
return of former IDPs," he added.


Sharifov noted that this conference brings together
representatives of international organizations and experts on
global development.







"The goal is to make our country safe and healthy, to create
conditions for recovery and sustainable development. For
Azerbaijan, this is not an abstract issue. This is a major
humanitarian challenge that directly affects the lives of our
citizens and the future of our liberated territories," the deputy
minister explained.


On September 2, the 4th International Mine Action Conference on
"Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of
Excellence for Safe Settlements" was launched in Baku.


The event features panel discussions on "Mine Action as
Foundation for Urban Recovery", "International Cooperation and
Donor Mechanisms to Support Safe Recovery through Mine Action in
Azerbaijan", and "Humanitarian Demining for Resilient
Communities".


The conference will conclude on September 3.