By Fatima Latifova

Between October 21 and 27, 43 anti-tank mines, 162 anti-personnel mines, and 2,777 unexploded ordnance (UXO) were detected and neutralized in the liberated territories, Azernews reports, citing the weekly update from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) concerning ongoing humanitarian demining operations in these areas.

The report indicates that 1,157 hectares have been cleared of mines. ANAMA, along with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the State Border Service (SBS), and four private companies, carried out these demining operations in the territories of Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankendi, Shusha, Khojavend, Lachin, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan.

Note that despite attempts at formally requesting information about the location of those mines, Armenia repeatedly denied that it possessed the relevant information and refused to engage on the issue.

Finally, in February this year, Armenia submitted 8 minefield maps of territories located in the liberated lands to Azerbaijan. These maps cover some of the areas along the former contact line. However, the maps covering part of the former contact line passing through Khojavand, Tartar, and Goranboy districts, as well as the areas mined by Armenian military units when they retreated in November 2020, have not been submitted yet.

Many have suspicions about these maps because previous minefield maps submitted by Armenia were inaccurate. Only 25 per cent of these maps were correct. Especially submitting minefield maps of the height where civilians do not live increases this suspicion. It is also worth noting that more than 55% of recent landmine cases have occurred outside the areas covered by the information provided.

The behaviour that Armenia displayed regarding the landmine threat is indeed another setback to the peace and confidence-building measures taken during the post-conflict period in the region.

As Azerbaijan's liberated territories remain contaminated with mines, the new infrastructure and green energy projects remain a risky and problematic goal. These obstacles to legal peace are part of the challenges facing the repopulation, development and integration of the liberated territories on the path to full peace.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action, known as ANAMA, has grown from a fledgling organization to one fully equipped to clear mines, provide risk education and assist survivors of accidents. Today ANAMA's efforts are aimed at continuing to expand mine action capacity for demining all liberated areas in Azerbaijan.