Rafiyev: Int'l community must help humanitarian demining activities

It is essential to raise the issue of mines when discussing post-conflict and post-disaster urban reconstruction, as several prerequisites must be met, Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, told journalists during the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

Rafiyev underlined that for Azerbaijan, mines represent a specific challenge in reconstruction efforts: "Even when financial resources are available and ceasefire and peace exist, reconstruction can only begin once mines are cleared. Mine clearance, of course, requires significant funding."

The deputy minister stressed that mine clearance should not be the sole responsibility of the state conducting reconstruction: "It is recognized at the UN that this is a humanitarian issue. To prevent people from facing these dangers, the international community must jointly assist in mine clearance."