From May 3-5, 2023, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Croatia, the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), and the Croatian Mine Action Group jointly organized “Humanitarian Mine Action in Azerbaijan: Challenges and Innovative Solutions” event during the 19th International Symposium on Mine Action held in Vodice, Croatia. Participants included demining agencies from different countries, representatives of non-governmental and donor organizations specialized in this field, as well as representatives of manufacturing companies.

At the symposium, experts exchanged views on topics such as advanced scientific and practical achievements in the field of mine action, sustainable solutions, and support for mine victims. The event featured speeches by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Croatia Anar Imanov, Chairman of the Board of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vugar Suleymanov, Special Representative of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Interdepartmental Center of the Coordinating Headquarters for the Restoration and Reconstruction of Liberated Territories Sultan Hajiyev.

The speakers drew international institutions' attention to the problem of landmines and unexploded ordnance in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, the serious threat posed by that problem to human life, and the obstacles to the restoration and reconstruction of the territories destroyed during the occupation. They also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and support in this field.

The Azerbaijani delegation informed participants about the establishment of a new national Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on humanitarian mine action, as well as the establishment of a global humanitarian mine action SDG, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. These topics will be the main focus of the international humanitarian mine action conference planned to be held in Azerbaijan at the end of this month.

The event also discussed the possible participation of specialized international companies in humanitarian mine action activities in Azerbaijan, the application of innovative technologies in non-technical and technical survey operations, the support of socio-economic integration of mine victims, as well as the future application of Azerbaijan's experience in the field of humanitarian mine action in other countries.