State not party to the Mine Ban Treaty

Non-signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Contamination

Mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination in the Republic of Azerbaijan is the consequence of the 1988–1994 armed conflict with Armenia—which saw landmines laid by both sides—and ammunition abandoned by the Soviet army in 1991. The most heavily contaminated areas are along the borders and confrontation lines between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh (see also separate report on Nagorno-Karabakh). Apart from Nagorno-Karabakh, the adjoining districts of Gubadly, Jabrayil, Kelbajar, Lachin, and Zangilan, and parts of Aghdam, Fizuli, and Tartar are under the control of Armenian forces, and are suspected to contain mines and unexploded ordinance (UXO).[1]

Mine contamination

The precise extent of contamination from antipersonnel mines in Azerbaijan is unknown, as Armenian forces currently occupy a significant area of the country, where considerable contamination exists. As of December 2014, survey and clearance had reduced mined area in areas under Azeri control to 120km².[2] The extent of contamination in areas occupied by Armenia is unknown, although the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has suggested that contamination may cover between 350km² and 830km².[3] 

Since 2001, survey and clearance have been reducing and better defining the extent of contamination within areas under the control of Azerbaijan. In 2003, the Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) identified 970 suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) covering 736km².[4] In 2006, resurvey reduced the estimate of contamination to 306km².[5] Further resurvey by ANAMA in 2008–2009 combined with clearance operations reduced total SHA to 184km² across 280 areas, of which 89 were believed to contain mines and 191 only unexploded ordnance (UXO).[6]

Cluster munition contamination

Large quantities of cluster munitions were dropped from the air during the 1988–1994 conflict. The precise extent of contamination from cluster munition remnants in Azerbaijan is unknown, as Azerbaijan does not control a significant area of the country, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Province, where the contamination exists.[7] 

In 2007, the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines surveyed cluster munition contamination in the non-occupied border regions of Azerbaijan. It concluded that cluster munitions (among other ordnance) had been used in the Aghdam and Fizuli regions.[8] In 2006 and 2007, cluster munition remnants were found in and around warehouses at a former Soviet ammunition storage area located at Saloglu in Agstafa district, where clearance was completed in July 2011.[9] None have since been encountered. 

In addition, significant contamination by cluster munition remnants has been identified in and around Nagorno-Karabakh (see the report on Nagorno-Karabakh).[10]

Other explosive remnants of war 

Other areas are confirmed or suspected to contain ERW, both UXO and abandoned explosive ordnance. Despite ongoing clearance efforts, significant contamination remains in and around warehouses at the former Soviet ammunition storage area in Guzdek village in Garadakh district, close to the capital, Baku. In 1991, 20 warehouses were blown up in Guzdek village resulting in tens of thousands of items of ordnance being scattered over a large area.[11] 

Program Management

A 1998 presidential decree established ANAMA, which reports to the deputy prime minister as head of the State Commission for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.[12] In April 1999, ANAMA established the “Azerbaijan Mine Action Programme,” a joint project of the government of Azerbaijan and UNDP.[13] A joint working group, established in December 1999 and consisting of representatives from various ministries, provides regular guidance to ANAMA.[14] ANAMA is tasked with planning, coordinating, managing, and monitoring mine action in the country. It also conducts demining operations, along with two national operators it contracts: Dayag-Relief Azerbaijan (RA) and the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF).[15] No commercial company is active in mine action in Azerbaijan.

Strategic planning 

ANAMA is integrated into the State Social and Economic Development Programme of Azerbaijan. The current mine action strategy is for 2014–2018.[16] ANAMA’s long-term strategy is to clear the occupied territories, as and when they become released.[17] 

National legislation

Azerbaijan is in the process of adopting a mine action law, with draft legislation currently under revision by other state institutions. Once adopted, it will regulate and determine the conditions of mine action in Azerbaijan, such as licensing, accreditation, quality assessment, and tender procedures.[18] 

Operators 

In 2014, ANAMA employed approximately 600 staff, covering both operational and administrative functions, and 45 mine detection dogs. Six demining machines were deployed, four of which were mini flails and the other two medium flails, with one explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) Bot robot designed for the lifting of heavy items of UXO.[19]

National capacity includes two national demining organizations, IEPF and RA, contracted to perform mine clearance operations. These two operators jointly employ 176 operational and administrative staff.[20] ANAMA’s training, survey, and quality assurance division (TSQAD), established in 2011, is responsible for training and quality assurance. Among other things, TSQAD conducts quality assurance and quality control.[21]

This mine action capacity was expected to be maintained in 2015.[22]

Land Release

The total mined area released by clearance and technical survey in 2014 was 10.4km²,[23] which compares with almost 7.1km² in 2013.[24] A further 10.7km² was cancelled in 2014 by non-technical survey.[25]

No land containing cluster munition remnants was released by clearance or technical survey in 2014 or cancelled by non-technical survey.[26]

Survey in 2014

Just over 5.66km² of mined area was reduced by technical survey in 2014, comprising almost 4.6km² across 57 locations in 12 districts in Azerbaijan (see table on Land release by technical survey below), and a further 1.07km² reduced using mechanical assets in 18 locations in eight districts in Azerbaijan (see table on Mechanical ground preparation below).[27] A further 10,694,880m² was cancelled by non-technical survey.[28]

Land release by technical survey by district in 2014[29]

Mechanical ground preparation by district in 2014[30]

Clearance in 2014 

ANAMA reported a total of just under 4.76km² of mine clearance in 2014, comprising almost 2.8km² of manual clearance (see table on Manual mine clearance in 2014 below) and more than 1.95km² of mine clearance with the support of mine detection dogs (MDDs) (see table on Manual mine clearance with MDD support below).[31] This represents a slight increase compared to 2013, when ANAMA cleared more than 4.6km² of mined land: 1.80km² through manual clearance and 2.8km² with MDD support.[32]

During clearance operations, 42 antipersonnel mines were destroyed, along with 218 antivehicle mines, and 52 items of UXO (see table on Mine clearance by operator in 2014 below).[33]

Manual mine clearance in 2014[34]

Manual mine clearance with MDD support in 2014[35]

Mine clearance by operator in 2014[36]

Relation to Mine Ban Treaty Article 5

Azerbaijan submitted voluntary Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 transparency reports in 2008 and 2009, but has not submitted an Article 7 report in the last five years.

During 2010–2014, nearly 18km² of mined area has been cleared in Azerbaijan, with annual clearance increasing slightly year on year (see table below).

Mine clearance in 2010–2014[37]

Ninety percent of mine action in Azerbaijan is nationally funded, with the government contributing more than 80% of the funding for mine clearance.[38] ANAMA’s long-term strategy is to be ready to mobilize and start clearance of the occupied territories, as and when this is possible.[39]