New sapper battalions formed in Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry

Baku/27.02.21/Turan: The Ministry of Defense has formed new sapper and engineer-sapper battalions to conduct mine clearance in the liberated territories. President Ilham Aliyev announced this at a press conference yesterday.

In addition, 100 million manats will be allocated to the State Agency for Demining in 2021 for the efficient organization of work, procurement of modern equipment, including remote equipment - robots, mine-clearing machines.

“That is, we will strive to do this as much as possible. One direction is the Ministry of Defense, the second direction is the State Agency for Mine Action,” Aliyev said.

Recently, modern equipment was purchased from Turkey - and it has already been brought.

The Turkish Defense Ministry has already sent over 100 specialists to participate in demining and training Azerbaijani sappers. “And the group of the Russian Emergencies Ministry is also involved in demining in the territory of the Agdam region. The main activity of the EMERCOM of Russia is on the territory, which is the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers, but they also participate here,” Aliyev said.

Along with this, negotiations are underway with several companies that have experience in the field of mine clearance.

Azerbaijani companies will also be involved in this process.

With regard to the methodology of work, it is consistent with international practice.

“These are communications; these are settlements and places for agricultural activities. By the way, I must say that we have already begun agricultural activities in the liberated territory. Winter wheat has already been planted on the territory of more than 7 thousand hectares. For this, the territory was previously cleared of mines. Therefore, we are ready for broad international cooperation. I know that now a lot of offers are coming from various companies. But here the main two factors, as in many other issues, are quality and price,” Aliyev said.  –06В-