ANAMA cleares Jeyranchol steppe from mines

Presentation of the project “Cleaning the territory  of Jeyranchol  from mines” implemented in the framework of NATO program "Partnership for Peace" took place in the park Inn Hotel. 

     The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov, Director of ANAMA (Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action) Nazim Isaylov, NATO Special Representative for South Caucasus and Central Asia, James Apaturay, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, experts from NATO and others.

    The project covered the territory of Jeyranchol steppe (64 sq. km.) along the Azerbaijani-Georgian border (500 km. West of Baku). It will be cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance.

    During the Soviet period ( from 1955 to 1991), these places were used for training and testing. The remaining mines there, and unexploded ordnance created a serious threat to the local population, environment and humanitarian situation.

    As a result of researches in 2009, a large number of unexploded ordnance, anti-tank mines, artillery mines of different caliber, bombs, etc., were revealed. 

On October 4, 2011, NATO formally approved the project on clearing the territory of Jeyranchol  from mines. The total cost of the project, which lasts 28 months, will be  nine million euro, and will  be implemented in two stages. 

   The first which costs  $3 million 90 thousand euro, was launched in April this year. Within 14 months, the area of ​​19 sq. m. miles, will be cleared. To date, 400,403 square meters  have been cleared,  and 70 min and the unexploded ordnance have been removed.  The work was carried out  by 60 mine sappers and specially trained dogs.

    Half the cost of the first phase of the project has been  paid by  the government of Azerbaijan. The United States, a leading donor of the project, invested 730,000 euros. As the donor acts the UK. It is expected that Turkey will provide financial support. The project covers an area Jeyranchol, which in Soviet times was called  the Generals ground.

   In the early 1990s, nor far  from these places, a strategic ammunition  of the Soviet army exploded.

    Clean-up  works play an important role in ensuring energy security as  it passes near the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Erzurum gas pipeline.

   The project will also boost development in the region of agriculture, since, as noted the Deputy Speaker, Abid Sharifov, the contaminated and explosive land remained unused for decades.

    James Aparturay, in turn, said that demining operations should be considered as  NATO projects.

     The US Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan, Adam Sterling, noted the importance of cooperation with ANAMA, and  reminded that so far, America has spent $ 15 million for demining activities in Azerbaijan.—03C04--