NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency experts to visit Azerbaijan

NATO experts will acquaint and assess the activities carried out in the second phase of Saloglu project for clearing unexploded ordnances (UXO).

The second phase of the project will end in June and the third phase will start. ANAMA and NAMSA discuss financing of the third phase. The third phase is expected to last for one more year.

ANAMA also said that that about 290,000 ammunitions had been found and neutralized since early 2006.

The largest soviet warehouse in the South Caucasus region had been located in Saloglu village of Agstafa region by August, 1991, when fire broke out in the village and was followed by explosions for four days.

The warehouse consisted of 138 bunkers.

As the result of the explosion, thousands pieces of UXO were scattered over a large area. Clearance of the territory of explosive hazards started early in 2006.

The agreement on financing “Saloglu” signed between the Government of Azerbaijan and NATO envisages two phases of the project.

/APA/