EU Council Delegation Visits Aghdam, Briefed on Mine Clearance and Reconstruction Efforts

Aghdam, The Gulf Observer: A delegation of the EU Council Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) visited Azerbaijan’s Aghdam district on October 2 as part of its tour of the liberated territories.

During the visit, the delegation was briefed on mine clearance operations in the village of Sarijali. Officials of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) provided information on mine contamination and ongoing demining activities across the liberated territories.

The delegation members observed demining operations and were informed that Aghdam is among the areas most heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance.

The EU Council delegation also met with Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavend districts.

Huseynov briefed the delegation on large-scale reconstruction and restoration projects being implemented across the liberated territories. A video presentation highlighting the ongoing transformation and development of the region was also shown during the meeting.

A representative of the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons informed the delegation about the commission’s activities, including efforts related to the discovery of mass graves in the liberated territories and investigations into the fate of missing Azerbaijani citizens.

As part of their visit to the liberated territories, the EU Council delegation members had earlier visited the cities of Shusha and Khankendi.