Italian, EU and UN representatives praise Azerbaijan's mine action experience

Azerbaijan is supporting efforts to include mine action issues in discussions on the UN Sustainable Development Goals through 2030, Gianluca Brusco, Director for Humanitarian Affairs at Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told a panel discussion at the 4th International Conference on Mine Action, Report informs.

"Azerbaijan is raising the issue of the link between mine clearance and climate resilience, while also highlighting the connection between development and mine action in the context of urban recovery," he said.

Brusco also highlighted efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing the need for the international community to provide practical support for the process.

Arturo Rodriguez Tonelli, Regional Programme Manager at the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, highlighted the leading role of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) in advancing mine action both nationally and internationally.

"Azerbaijan's experience convincingly demonstrates that mine action is not only about eliminating explosive threats. It is also about creating conditions for people to safely return home, restoring access to land and infrastructure, and establishing conditions for recovery and development," Tonelli said.

He stressed that international assistance should take national priorities into account and focus on strengthening countries' own mine action capacities.

Tim Lardner, Director for Europe and Central Asia at the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), emphasized the need for long-term international partnerships and coordinated donor assistance.

According to Lardner, developing mine action capacity takes time and requires long-term partnerships. He also stressed the importance of coordination among international partners and donors, noting that mine action should be linked to broader recovery and development priorities.