2024-04-04 20:34:14
As a result of mine explosions, which occur almost daily amid the ongoing mine threat from Armenia, a total of 350 Azerbaijanis have become victims of mines in the post-conflict period.
As Day.Az reports, this is stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in connection with April 4 – International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
“During the almost 30-year military occupation of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan by Armenia, as well as in the current post-conflict period, our country, suffering from the threat of mines and having made numerous victims, emphasizes the importance of seriously combating the mine threat. The threat of mining not only slows down the reconstruction and construction work, the process of returning former internally displaced persons to their lands, but also remains a source of serious danger to the life and health of our citizens. Even after the end of the 44-day Patriotic War, Armenia, contrary to its obligations, used the Lachin road for illegal purposes. This is confirmed by is the discovery in 2022 in the Lachin and Kalbajar regions of more than 2,700 anti-personnel mines produced in Armenia in 2021.
After local anti-terrorist measures in September 2023 on the territory of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeeping forces were temporarily deployed, the installation of more than 500 thousand mines along the perimeter of these territories was revealed, which confirms the scale of this threat. It also demonstrated that claims that Armenia has not produced or used mines in recent decades have no basis in fact.
As a result of the post-conflict mine threat from Armenia, a total of 350 Azerbaijanis have been killed in mine explosions that occur almost daily. 65 people died, of which 50 were civilians and 15 were military personnel.
The geography of mine incidents, most of which occurred outside the former line of contact, especially in the locations of civilian objects, settlements, and cemeteries, indicates that the mine threat from Armenia is deliberately aimed at increasing civilian casualties. This, in turn, is another manifestation of the current ethnic hatred and intolerance towards Azerbaijanis on the part of Armenia. Despite repeated calls for maps of mined areas to end this threat, Armenia has long denied the existence of such maps. The reliability of the map data presented as a result of pressure exerted by the international community was only 25%. More than 55% of recent mine incidents occurred outside the areas shown on the maps.
On April 4, the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Azerbaijan reiterates its call on the international community to take consistent action to condemn the mine threat from Armenia, provide the country with mine maps, and provide support for mine clearance. threats in Azerbaijan,” the statement said.
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