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Table of Contents
Country Reports
Azerbaijan, Landmine Monitor Report 2003

Azerbaijan

Key developments since May 2002: In September 2002, the Survey Action Center began a Landmine Impact Survey in Azerbaijan, conducted through the International Eurasia Press Fund and the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action. Preliminary information identified more than 650 communities in 27 regions as mine suspected, of which more than 80 percent were considered to be low impact. In 2002, two national NGOs cleared 1,118,000 square meters of land, marked another 1,221,000 square meters for clearance, and identified and registered another 66,352,000 square meters in 12 regions as mine-affected. In 2002, 30 mine risk education seminars were held in 12 mine-affected regions, which trained 525 medical staff.

Mine Ban Policy

The Republic of Azerbaijan has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. On 9 November 2002, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Araz Azimov, told a delegation from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) that the government shares the “goals, purposes and principles of the Ottawa process,” but believes it would be “irresponsible” to join the treaty at the present time as Azerbaijan cannot fulfill the treaty’s obligations.[1] A Ministry of Defense official told a regional seminar in November 2002 that, “adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty will be possible only after the final settlement of the territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”[2]

In December 2002, Azerbaijan told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that it “supports the idea of a comprehensive international legal document on the ban of use, storage and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.... Azerbaijan considers that full ban and destruction of anti-personnel landmines is an important humanitarian objective of the world community in the XXI century.... As a result of Armenia’s actions, which is keeping the territories of Azerbaijan under occupation, Azerbaijan at present stage cannot become the party to the Convention, since it is deprived of the opportunity to fulfill the obligations stemming from it.”[3]

On 22 November 2002, Azerbaijan abstained from the vote on UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74, which supported universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, even though Deputy Minister Azimov had told the ICBL earlier in the month that Azerbaijan would cease abstaining from the annual pro-ban UNGA votes.[4] Azerbaijan participated in Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002, but it did not attend 2003 meetings of the treaty’s intersessional Standing Committees. Azerbaijan has not joined the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) or its Amended Protocol II on landmines.

The Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines (AzCBL) undertook a variety of activities in 2002 and 2003 in support of the antipersonnel mine ban. It met with government officials, parliamentarians, NGOs, diplomatic representatives and representatives of international organizations to discuss its efforts to get Azerbaijan to join Mine Ban Treaty, and it organized media briefings. From 7-9 November 2002, the AzCBL hosted the annual meeting of ICBL members from the Commonwealth of Independent States region. This included organizing a media briefing, meetings with the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a field visit to the mine-affected Fizuli region in the far west of the country.

Production, Transfer, Stockpiling, Use

Azerbaijan does not produce or export antipersonnel mines and does not permit the transfer of mines through territory under its control. Azerbaijan’s landmine stockpile is a legacy of the Soviet-era, but the number and types of mines is not known.[5] Landmines were used by all sides throughout the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and sporadically after the signing of the armistice in May 1994.[6] Landmine Monitor has not received any specific allegations of new use of antipersonnel mines during this reporting period (since May 2002).

Landmine Problem and Survey

Azerbaijan’s landmine problem is largely a result of the conflict with Armenia from 1988-1994, but left-over munitions dumps and unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose a significant threat as well.[7]

In September 2002, the Survey Action Center (SAC) began a Landmine Impact Survey in Azerbaijan, with the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) as the implementing agency.[8] Data collection was completed in May 2003. Final report writing was taking place in June 2003, with some additional fieldwork being conducted for quality assurance purposes.

The survey was conducted through the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action and the IEPF, with oversight and monitoring provided by a SAC team based in Baku. The European Commission (EC) provided funding for the survey. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) provided logistical and technical support.[9] The goal of the survey was to determine the socio-economic impact that landmines and UXO have on communities.

SAC trained IEPF staff to plan and conduct the survey. A questionnaire was translated into the Azeri language; and a preliminary list of mine suspected communities was made Preliminary information on contaminated areas was obtained from a survey of nine mine action agencies between 21 October and 8 November 2002. The seven agencies that responded identified 35 out of 59 regions as potentially affected by mines and UXO. Subsequent visits resulted in an initial list of over 400 mine suspected communities in 27 regions. Additional communities, identified through community-level referrals received during the survey period were later added to the list. By the end of April 2003, more than 650 communities in 27 regions had been identified as mine suspected, of which more than 80 percent were considered to be low impact. Military authorities in the Nakichivan region did not allow the Landmine Impact Survey to take place there for national security reasons.

In early June 2003, Cranfield Mine Action through SAC conducted a strategic planning exercise utilizing the survey data, as well as other available information such as mine clearance capacity and national priorities.

Mine Action Funding

According to ANAMA, in 2002, mine action funding for Azerbaijan totaled approximately $2.7 million. This included $259,000 from the government of Azerbaijan and $265,410 from UNDP.[10]

Five donors have reported providing about $4.5 million in mine action assistance to Azerbaijan in 2002. The US State Department provided a total of $1.38 million in its fiscal year 2002, and the Defense Department provided another estimated $1.95 million.[11] In addition, the US European Command reportedly spent approximately $1.6 million on training in Azerbaijan in 2002, and left $400,000 worth of supplies and equipment for use in future operations.[12] Other contributions included: the Netherlands $518,181; Italy $200,300; Japan $78,807; and Switzerland $15,000.[13] In 2001, Landmine Monitor recorded mine action funding totaling $5.5 million.

On 2 July 2002, the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, representing over 160 vineyards across New York State, and a US nonprofit, the Humpty Dumpty Institute, held an event at the UN headquarters to raise funds to clear mines and restore vineyards in the Fizuli region of Azerbaijan.[14]

Mine Action Coordination and Planning

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), established 18 July 1998, continues to serve as the national mine action agency responsible for coordinating all aspects of mine action within Azerbaijan.[15] According to the UN, “The aim is to hand over management and implementation of all aspects of mine action operations to ANAMA by the end of 2003.”[16] In 2002, the US conducted two training courses in Baku (management techniques and Mine Risk Education training) and three in Horadiz (impact and technical surveying, basic clearance techniques, and advanced medical trainings).

An Azeri National Strategic Plan adopted in October 2001 creates a basic mine action capacity for dealing with the problem in accessible areas. ANAMA also uses an annual work plan, in which clearance priorities are set.[17] It is expected that the findings of the Landmine Impact Survey will enable ANAMA to better prioritize mine clearance needs.

Mine Clearance

In 2002, two national NGOs, Relief Azerbaijan and the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), both established in 2000, continued mine survey and clearance in the Fizuli, Goranboy and Khanlar regions of Azerbaijan.[18] In November 2002, demining operations near Chemenli village in Agdam region stopped for security reasons.[19] The Azerbaijan National Army did not conduct any humanitarian mine clearance in 2002.[20]

According to ANAMA, in 2002, the two NGOs cleared a total area of 1,118,000 square meters, including 676,000 square meters manually and 442,000 square meters using mine detecting dogs. The NGOs identified and registered as mine-affected 66,352,000 square meters in 12 regions. They marked for mine clearance another 1,221,000 square meters of land.[21]

ANAMA provided other statistics that are not consistent with the totals for 2002. From 2000 to May 2003, the NGOs cleared a total area of 1,753,826 square meters, identified and registered as mine-affected 58,963,588 square meters of land, and marked for mine clearance another 1,404,883 square meters of land.[22]

At the request of local inhabitants, in July 2002 a small team of ten IEPF deminers started mine clearance near the community of Gushgara in Khanlar region, using funds provided by Japan. In December, the group conducted mine clearance near the community of Topalhesenly in the same region.[23] By 31 December 2002, IEPF had cleared 60,800 square meters of land, removing and destroying nine UXO and three antipersonnel mines.

Landmine and UXO clearance is being undertaken in the community of Ashagi Agjakend in Goranboy region to allow the reconstruction of housing for IDPs.[24]

After mine clearance is completed, about 10 percent of the cleared land is quality checked in accordance with national and international standards. As of January 2003, mine clearance was underway in eight minefields, while 150 cleared areas were in the quality assurance process.[25]

ANAMA estimates that it will take 10 to15 years and cost $180-200 million to clear Azerbaijan’s landmine problem.[26]

Mine Risk Education

A joint mine risk education (MRE) project between UNICEF and ANAMA continued in 2002 and 2003.[27] In 2002, 30 MRE seminars were held in 12 mine-affected regions, which trained 525 medical staff.[28] In Goranboy region, conflict reconstruction teams received MRE training. Another 18 senior trainers graduated from a special five-day MRE training course. Some 400 volunteers were trained in the 12 regions. In November 2002, large billboards were erected at the entry and exits to 49 settlements in nine mine-affected regions. In 2002, MRE materials distributed included 30,000 posters, 120,000 children’s books, 100,000 brochures for adults, 150,000 notebooks for schoolchildren, 7,000 T-shirts, and 10,000 training supplies.

In September 2002, an external consultant evaluated the MRE program developed by UNICEF and ANAMA. The evaluation report commended UNICEF for building “a good national capacity” and described several incidents of children reporting suspicious objects to the authorities as a “good indicator of the success of the program.” The report recommended that the program build stronger relationships with its partners, encourage volunteers to form MRE committees, produce MRE sessions in partnership with state television, involve more NGO partners, urge the Ministry of Education to get MRE in the school curriculum, strengthen participation by youth organizations, make sure the content of the MRE workshops is relevant and appropriate, and create a special MRE section within ANAMA.[29]

On August 2002, the US European Command held a mine awareness training for 13 people with certificate award.[30]

Landmine Casualties

In 2002, 17 new mine/UXO casualties were recorded by ANAMA, of which nine people were killed and eight injured. Fifteen casualties were men and two were women. No incidents involving children were recorded.[31] In 2001, 25 new mine/UXO casualties were reported; two people were killed and 23 injured.[32]

Civilian mine/UXO casualties reported in the media in 2002 include a thirteen-year-old boy from the village of Khoch in Sharur region killed on 21 March after handling a grenade,[33] and a villager from Tezekend, in the same region, killed in a UXO explosion while herding his cattle in June.[34]

According to the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers, there were twelve landmine casualties among members of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces in 2002.[35] A survey of media reports in 2002 found nine military mine/UXO casualties. On 23 February, a soldier was killed in an antivehicle mine explosion. On 15 August, a landmine explosion in Kemerli village in Kazakh region killed two soldiers and a civilian.[36] On 26 September, the AzCBL received information that an Army deminer was killed in a landmine explosion; however this was not confirmed by the Ministry of Defense.[37] On 18 October, three soldiers were injured in a landmine incident in Ter-Ter region.[38] In two incidents in February and October, an Army deminer was killed and another injured in landmine accidents in Fizuli region.[39]

Casualties continue to be reported in 2003. ANAMA has recorded six new mine/UXO casualties to June 2003, including four people killed and two injured.[40]

The Landmine Impact Survey, which was completed in May 2003, recorded 52 “recent” mine/UXO casualties over a two-year period (approximately 2000-2003). Of the 52 casualties, 79 percent survived, and most were adult herders and farmers.[41]

The total number of landmine casualties in Azerbaijan remains unclear. The Landmine Impact Survey identified 1,164 mine/UXO casualties prior to 2000, of which 436 people were killed and 728 injured.[42] As of June 2003, the ANAMA database contains records of 1,252 landmine and UXO casualties, of which 318 people were killed and 934 injured. Children account for 194 casualties.[43]

Since August 1991, there have been over 200 UXO casualties reported, including 75 people killed, from explosions of UXO stored at former Soviet Army ammunition depots.[44] The largest depot is in Saloglu region in the northwest of the country, while other sites are located in Agstafa, Gazakh, Khanlar, and Tovuz regions.[45]

Survivor Assistance

Medical and surgical facilities in Azerbaijan are believed to be adequate to treat mine casualties. Hospitals reportedly provide experienced physicians and ambulance services. All medical and rehabilitation expenses for mine survivors and other persons with disabilities are covered by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MOLASP).[46]

The Landmine Impact Survey found that of the 52 recent casualties, 93 percent of survivors had received emergency care at the time of the incident, and almost 25 percent have received rehabilitation usually in the form of prostheses. Six percent, or three survivors, reported receiving no treatment or care.[47]

The ICRC supports the Nakhchivan prosthetic/orthotic center which was set up by an ICRC-trained technician. In 2002, the center produced 29 prostheses, of which six were for landmine survivors.[48] After the closure of the ICRC/MOLASP Darnagul Prosthetic-Orthotic Center in Baku on 31 December 2001, the ICRC began construction of a new prosthetic workshop in Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan. The Ganja branch of the Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center opened on 15 February 2003 with the capacity to provide high quality services to people with disabilities. The Center employs two ICRC-trained technicians.[49]

The government-run Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center in Baku assisted 7,000-8,000 people in 2002, free-of-charge, providing physical rehabilitation, prostheses, orthoses, and other assistive devices. The center has 15,000 registered patients, including about 5,000 war-disabled.[50] In 2002, 111 people attended the center for the first time, including 56 landmine survivors.[51] Azerbaijan does not produce wheelchairs, which are imported at a cost of $1,200–$1,500 each.[52]

Thirty-five NGOs are working with persons with disabilities in Azerbaijan. However, there are no programs focusing on mine survivors.[53]

On 27 March 2003, ANAMA organized the first meeting of the Mine Victim Assistance Working Group which includes representatives of relevant government, non-governmental and international organizations operating in Azerbaijan. The aim of the working group is to develop a long-term mine victim assistance program.[54] ANAMA has appointed a Mine Victims Assistance Specialist to co-ordinate activities.[55]

Disability Policy and Practice

The 1997 Law of Prevention of Disability, Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability and their Social Protection applies to all persons with disabilities in Azerbaijan, including mine survivors.[56]


[1] Notes taken by Landmine Monitor (AzCBL) during a meeting between Hon. Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and ICBL representatives from the Commonwealth of Independent States, Baku, 9 November 2002. See also AzCBL, “Information Bulletin No. 10,” 2002.
[2] Notes taken by Landmine Monitor (HRW) of a statement by Colonel Ramazanov, Director, Legal Department, Ministry of Defense, to a regional conference on Landmine and the Explosive Remnants of War hosted by the ICRC, Moscow, 4 November 2002.
[3] Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the OSCE, “Response to the Questionnaire on Anti-Personnel Landmines,” 20 December 2002.
[4] Hon. Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baku, 9 November 2002.
[5] Ibid.; AzCBL “Information Bulletin No. 10,” 2002.
[6] Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 762-765; Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 800.
[7] For a description of the conflict and resulting landmine problem, see Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 762-765; Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 800.
[8] This section on the Landmine Impact Survey is based on an email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Mike Kendellen, Director for Survey, Survey Action Center, 27 May 2003.
[9] Azernews (English-language newspaper), 6 November 2002.
[10] Echo (newspaper), 3 May 2003; Republic (newspaper), 30 May 2003; telephone interview with Aziz Aliyev, Director, Information Department, ANAMA, 6 June 2003.
[11] US Department of State, “Congressional Budget Justifications: Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2004 - Bilateral Economic Assistance - State, Treasury, Complex Foreign Contingencies, Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Famine Fund,” 3 February 2003, pp. 124-128.
[12] Express (newspaper), 29 August 2002; AzCBL, Information Bulletin, No. 7, 2002.
[13] UN Mine Action Investments database, at http://webapps.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.
[14] Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 614.
[15] Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p. 766.
[16] UN, “Portfolio of Mine-Related Projects 2003,” October 2002, p. 50.
[17] Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action, “Work Plan 2002-2003.”
[18] Email to AzCBL from ANAMA, 29 January 2003.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Interview with Colonel Muradali Aliyev, Director, Demining Office, Ministry of Defense, 30 January 2003.
[21] Email to AzCBL from ANAMA, 29 January 2003.
[22] Email to AzCBL from ANAMA, 6 June 2003.
[23] Email to AzCBL from ANAMA 29 January 2003; Comsomolskaya Pravda–Baku, (Russian-language newspaper), 17 August 2002; Sharg (newspaper), 17 August 2002.
[24] Sharg, 2 May 2002; Olaylar (newspaper), 24 May 2002; Echo, 27 December 2002.
[25] Email to AzCBL from ANAMA 29 January 2003.
[26] Echo, 16 July 2002; Yeni Musavat (newspaper), 16 July 2002.
[27] This section is based on a letter to Landmine Monitor (AzCBL) from Musa Jalilov, MRE officer, UNICEF, 27 January 2003.
[28] The 12 regions were Agdam, Agjabedi, Agstafa, Beylagan, Dashkesen, Fizuli, Gazakh, Gedebey, Goranboy, Khanlar, Ter-Ter, and Tovuz.
[29] Christina Nelke, “An External Evaluation of the UNICEF-ANAMA Mine Risk Education Project in Azerbaijan,” UNICEF, Baku, 1 October 2002.
[30] Express, 29 August 2002.
[31] Email to Landmine Monitor (HIB) from Aziz M. Aliyev, Information Manager, ANAMA, 12 July 2003.
[32] See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 616.
[33] Comsomolskaya Pravda–Baku, 23 March 2002.
[34] Yeni Musavat, 3 June 2002.
[35] Interview with Rosa Aligizi, Chairwoman, Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers, Baku, 14 January 2003.
[36] Hurriyyet (newspaper), 17 August 2002; Sharg, 17 August 2002; Echo, 17 August 2002.
[37] Interview with Colonel Ramiz Melikov, Director, Press Service, Ministry of Defense, 27 September 2002.
[38] Yeni Musavat, 20 October 2002; “Three Azeri officers injured in land mine blast in southern district,” ANS TV, Baku, 18 October 2002.
[39] Yeni Musavat, 26 February 2002; Yeni Musavat, 1 October 2002.
[40] Email from Aziz M. Aliyev, ANAMA, 12 July 2003.
[41] Preliminary results of Azerbaijan Landmine Impact Survey, information provided in email to Landmine Monitor (HIB) from Mike Kendellen, Director for Survey, Survey Action Center, 2 July 2003.
[42] Ibid.
[43] Email from Aziz M. Aliyev, ANAMA, 12 July 2003.
[44] Zerkalo (newspaper), 26 April 2003.
[45] Meeting with Nazim Ismayilov, Director, ANAMA, and Landmine Monitor researchers from the CIS, Baku, 7 November 2002.
[46] Interview with Shahnaz Hashimova, Deputy Director, Department of Prevention, Ministry of Health, Baku, 17 January 2003; interview with Dunya Khalilova, Press Secretary, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Baku, 21 January 2003.
[47] Preliminary results of Azerbaijan Landmine Impact Survey, provided on 2 July 2003.
[48] Interview with Shamsaddin Hudaverdiyev, Director, Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center, Baku, 17 January 2003; ICRC, “Annual Report 2002,” Geneva, June 2003, p. 247.
[49] ICRC, “Azerbaijan: February-March 2002,” Operational update, 1 April 2003. Available at: www.icrc.org; interview with Shamsaddin Hudaverdiyev, Director, Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center, Baku, 17 January 2003.
[50] Meeting with Shamsaddin Hudaverdiyev, Director, Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center, and Landmine Monitor researchers from the CIS, Baku, 6 November 2002.
[51] Interview with Shamsaddin Hudaverdiyev, Prosthetic and Orthopedic Centre, 17 January 2003.
[52] Meeting with Shamsaddin Hudaverdiyev, Prosthetic and Orthopedic Center, 6 November 2002.
[53] See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 617.
[54] ANAMA press release, “First Meeting of Mine Victim Assistance Working Group,” 29 March 2003,available at www.anama.baku.az.
[55] Email to Landmine Monitor (HIB) from Rauf Mamedov, Mine Victims Assistance Specialist, ANAMA, 20 May 2003.
[56] For details see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 860.