Elise Becker: Azerbaijan example of successful development of national mine action potential

Azerbaijan has become an example of the successful development of national capacity in mine action and the deployment of mine detection dogs, Report informs, citing statements by Executive Director of the Marshall Legacy Institute Elise Becker at the 4th International Mine Action Conference.

According to her, cooperation between the Marshall Legacy Institute and Azerbaijan began 21 years ago, and during this time, more than 100 trained dogs have been donated to the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).

"In my view, this is a strong example of capacity building in mine action-from providing information, resources, and training to the current stage, where ANAMA independently owns and manages this capability," she noted.

Becker emphasized that effective international cooperation extends beyond merely transferring resources or equipment.

"It is about fostering knowledge, strengthening institutions, and ultimately ensuring national ownership and self-reliance. I believe Azerbaijan serves as an excellent example of this evolution," she said.

According to the executive director, initial support included donating dogs, training handlers and supervisors, and providing technical and operational oversight for the work of K9 teams.

"Our national partner, ANAMA, has transformed from an assistance recipient into a self-reliant capacity owner, evolving into an expert in mine detection dogs," Becker stressed.

She also highlighted that over the past five years alone, the Marshall Legacy Institute has provided more than 60 dogs for field operations in Azerbaijan.