Azerbaijan seeks to adopt South Korean demining expertise – President’s special rep

Azerbaijan is reaching out to Korea for assistance in their demining efforts, as highlighted by Elchin Amirbayov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Special Assignments. With 12% of their territory affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance from past conflicts, Azerbaijan seeks Korea’s expertise in this critical area.

Amirbayov emphasized the urgent need for support, noting that only 13% of the contaminated areas have been cleared, leaving 87% still posing a threat to civilians. The presence of 1.5 million landmines, planted by Armenians without accurate maps, has resulted in 377 mine victims, with 69 fatalities.

Despite Korea’s past success in assisting countries facing similar challenges, their involvement in Azerbaijan has been limited. The Azerbaijani government hopes for increased support to aid in post-conflict peacebuilding and prevent further casualties.

The interview with The Korea Times sheds light on Azerbaijan’s plea for help as they strive to make their land safe and secure for all citizens.