“About 3000 fell victim to mines and unexploded ordnances in Azerbaijan. Most of the mine victims are men aged 18-39,” chairman of Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines Hafiz Safikhanov told APA that Azerbaijan has no region, where there are no mine victims. “The number of mine victims in Azerbaijan is twice as many than other countries of the South Caucasus. About 400 Azerbaijani citizens fell victim to mines and unexploded ordnances after ceasefire agreement was signed. Taking all this into account, Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines considers it important to offer comprehensive aid to mine victims, accelerate mine-clearance operations and raise public awareness on mine threat and is actively participating in such campaigns,” he said.
Safikhanov said more than 80% of the world countries (161 countries) are members of Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Convention) and 111 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. 36 states, including the countries of the South Caucasus have not joined Ottawa Convention. Though Azerbaijan has not joined Ottawa Convention and Convention on Cluster Munitions taking the current military-political situation, it fulfills all tasks reflected in this document.
/APA/
