UXO clearance project implemented by Azerbaijan with NATO's support to be completed in May

Saloglu UXO clearance project implemented by the Azerbaijani government with the support of NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) will be completed in May, senior expert of Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Adil Aslanov told APA.

Aslanov said senior delegation from NAMSA will also participate in the completion of the Saloglu project.

“Such method of clearing warehouses in the world was first applied in Azerbaijan. This practice is also shared with other countries,” Aslanov said.

ANAMA’s representative said the project that started on January 6, 2005, was implemented in three phases. The term of the project was extended due to the underground clearance operations. Aslanov said sometimes during the underground operations 1000 bullets were found in 1 sq m area, a “graveyard” of 122 mm projectiles was also detected there. Over 250 various munitions, cluster bombs were detected in 138 warehouses in Saloglu.

623 712 munitions were rendered harmless in Saloglu warehouses and surrounding area. As the continuation of the project the former shooting range on Azerbaijan-Georgia border in Jeyranchol will be cleared of munitions and mines.


/APA/