"Hidden Seeds of Death" Book Presented

The world is grappling with a significant landmine issue. In an effort to raise continued awareness among the global community, educate individuals about the peril of landmines, and strengthen the fight against their proliferation, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution in 2005 designating April 4th as the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

For nearly 30 years, Azerbaijan has suffered immense devastation in the lands occupied by Armenia. Over 900 settlements have been obliterated, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Adding to the already dire situation, the territories have been severely contaminated with mines and other explosives, posing a grave threat to the safety and well-being of the affected communities. Following the conclusion of the Second Karabakh War, a staggering toll of 288 Azerbaijanis have lost their lives or sustained injuries due to the devastating impact of mine explosions.

Azerbaijan's President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, has underscored that landmine continue to impede progress in the reconstruction efforts and the return of former Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the territories liberated from occupation. He has emphasized that he is committed to advancing the demining initiative as part of the 18th Sustainable Development Goal. The Head of State has put forward a proposal to establish a Like-Minded Group of Mine-Affected Countries, particularly among members of the Non-Aligned Movement, given that many of these nations remain severely affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance. The proposed group aims to bolster global efforts to address the landmine crisis by drawing greater international attention to the issue.

The book "Hidden Seeds of Death" has been meticulously crafted with the objective of shedding light on the devastating impact of landmines, anti-tank (AT) mines, and explosives in the newly liberated territories of Azerbaijan. It seeks to raise awareness among the global community and international institutions about the terror and devastation caused by these hidden threats in the affected regions.

The primary objective of the book is to advance the "Mine-Free Azerbaijan, Safe Karabakh" initiative by drawing the focus of international organizations and countries committed to combating the mine menace to Azerbaijan's mine predicament.

The "Hidden Seeds of Death" book, published by the "IRS" Publishing House, is divided into five chapters: "Foreword", "Desolated Land", "Crime Against Humanity", "Total Terror", and "Afterword". It has been released in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian languages to ensure a wider reach and understanding of the message conveyed in the book.

The book was developed by the team at the IRS magazine, with the valuable support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), and PASHA Life Insurance OJSC.

It is worth mentioning that IRS Publishing House has been producing and publishing books on the rich cultural heritage, history, and Karabakh of Azerbaijan for the past 10 years, with the generous support of PASHA Life Insurance OJSC. "Hidden Seeds of Death" is the 20th edition in this series of publications.