1,323 landmines, 14 unexploded ordnance found on Fuzuli-Zangilan railway

A joint meeting of the working groups on clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance and military-civil coordination of the Interdepartmental Center under the Coordination Headquarters established by the relevant decree of President Ilham Aliyev took place on July 14.

Report informs that the participants first got acquainted with the demining process of the Fuzuli-Zangilan (Agband) railway passing through the villages of Jojug Marjanli and Mehdili.

Idris Ismayilov, a representative of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency, said that 1,323 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and 14 unexploded ordnances were found in the area. Demining is carried out in three stages.

Providing information about the arable lands and perennial crops in the liberated part of the Fizuli region, Major General Anar Karimov, Chief of the Main Department of Engineering Troops of the Defense Ministry, said that 24 hectares had been cleared of mines so far. A total of 293 hectares will be cleared of mines. Remains of unexploded ordnance and shells were found here. To date, more than 15,000 munitions have been destroyed.

Then, the Fizuli State Fire Protection Department of the State Fire Protection Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations was inspected. Giving information about the work done, the head of the Fizuli State Fire Department, Colonel Maharram Maharramov, said that 178 fires had occurred so far. They were immediately extinguished, and the blaze was prevented from spreading to a larger area.

Then, a joint meeting of the working groups on clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance and military-civilian coordination issues under the Coordination Headquarters took place.

Nusrat Suleymanov, Deputy Chairman of the Interdepartmental Center under the Coordination Headquarters, said that the sides exchanged views on issues on the agenda in the field of demining, as well as decisions on civil relations, and the tasks set by President Ilham Aliyev. The main purpose of such meetings is to ensure that the working groups and members get acquainted with the work carried out in the areas, as well as to organize the activities of the working groups more effectively.

It should be noted that the Coordination Headquarters established by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 24, 2020, is led by the Head of the Presidential Administration, Samir Nuriyev.