Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) is a mine action agency and executive body under State Commission for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of War-Affected Areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agency is accountable for implementing all necessary procedures corresponding to Azerbaijan Mine Action Program in order to decontaminate mines within the territory of Azerbaijan. Donors of the agency are government of Azerbaijan ($2,400,000) and UNDP ($160,000). [1]
ANAMA was founded on the basis of the Presidential Decree No.854 dated July 18, 1998. The Agency is considered as a joint project of the Government of Azerbaijan and UNDP according to a bilateral agreement which was signed on April 2, 1999. Since the establishment of the Agency more than 40 thousand hectares of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been cleared according to the statistics of 2017. 796,754 unexploded mines and ordnance were found and eliminated. [2]
ANAMA within its authority tries to create such environment that the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan could no longer suffer from landmines and explosive devices. In order to achieve this aim, the Agency attempt to increase its demining capacity. Therefore, it is improving its Information Technology capacity to promote the research-development process related to mine action activities in Azerbaijan. Additionally, the head office pursues the certain policies that tend to reduce the number of fatal accidents and injuries occurred due to explosions of mine, to restore and reconstruct the infrastructure and to ensure food safety. It is expected that as a result of these measures the IDPs (internally displaced persons as a consequences of NK conflict) could return to their homeland again. Mine Risk Education Program that suggested by ANAMA is one of the Agency's strategic objectives that determines rules and regulations in order to increase awareness about the possible dangers that can occur as a result of explosion of mine among the local population who lives under threat of the mentioned dangerous situation. The education program of the Agency is implemented in more than 25 regions and especially the areas close to front lines. [3] [4]
The structure of ANAMA comprises headquarters in Baku city, the local branches that are located in Horadiz settlement, Fizuli and Goygol districts and additionally, four operational centers located in Terter, Agjabedi, Agstafa and Baku. [5]
ANAMA has been collaborating with several international organizations such as International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF), Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. The Agency also cooperating with the relevant state organizations of Croatia and Slovenia (Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance). On January 25, 2013, ANAMA signed another agreement with International Organization for Migration. Additionally, the Agency cooperating with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) since 1999. [6] [7] [8] [9]
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations whose stated objective is a world free of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, where mine and cluster munitions survivors see their rights respected and can lead fulfilling lives.
Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) is a Swiss non-governmental organisation specialising in mine action. Since its creation in 1997, FSD has carried out operations in some 30 countries on four continents. Its programmes include the following four components: humanitarian demining, explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, and stockpile destruction and management. In 25 years, more than 1.4 million items of explosive ordnance have been neutralised by FSD.
The region of Nagorno-Karabakh and areas around it are considered to be some of the most heavily mined regions of the former Soviet Union. Mines were laid from early 1990s by both Azerbaijani and Armenian forces during and after the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The worst-affected areas are along the fortified former contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, in particular in the districts of Aghdam, Fuzuli and Jabrayil. According to military experts from both Azerbaijan and Armenia, the ground in those areas is covered with "carpets of land mines." The region has the highest per capita rate in the world of accidents due to unexploded ordnance.
The Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union (EU) have maintained a positive relationship through the years and have become more closely linked since 1991. Azerbaijan is currently part of the European Neighborhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership and the Council of Europe. The EU is the largest foreign grant donor to and investor in Azerbaijan, both in the government sector and civil society, making available over 600 million EURO of bilateral EU assistance since 1992.
Bilateral relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Japan in the political, socio-economic, cultural, and other fields.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a service located within the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations that specializes in coordinating and implementing activities to limit the threat posed by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan Republic is the central executive body within the cabinet of Azerbaijan Republic responsible for protecting the population from natural and manmade disasters. The ministry is headed by Kamaladdin Heydarov.
The Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulating the education system in Azerbaijan.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulating the labour markets and ensuring social protection of the population of Azerbaijan. The ministry was headed by Salim Muslumov until 2018. Current minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population is Sahil Babayev. He is appointed to this position based on presidential decree dated 21 April 2018.
The State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of activities for protection of rights of women and children and overseeing activities of non-governmental organizations involved in family in Azerbaijan Republic. The ministry is headed by Bahar Muradova.
The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of activities the sphere of migration taking in consideration issues of national security and stable social-economic and demographic development in Azerbaijan Republic. The committee is headed by Vusal Huseynov.
Azerbaijan has been a member in the United Nations since March 2, 1992, after the UN General Assembly admitted Azerbaijan at its 46th session. The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan was opened in New York City in May 1992. On October 29, 1991, soon after gaining independence from the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan applied to the UN General Assembly for joining the organization. Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term of 2012–2013. Through the UN, Azerbaijan has reached out to the international community, especially Europe. Azerbaijan strengthened its relations with the UN by cooperating with UN agencies and bodies such as International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and the financial institutions of the UN.
Protection of children’s rights is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a number of other laws. Children’s rights embrace legal, social and other issues concerning children.
The relationship between Azerbaijan and NATO started in 1992 when Azerbaijan joined the newly created North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Considerable partnership between NATO and Azerbaijan dates back to 1994, when the latter joined Partnership for Peace program. Azerbaijan established a diplomatic Mission to NATO in 1997 by the Presidential Decree on 21 November.
Diplomatic relations exist between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands.
Relations between Turkic Council and Azerbaijan started from the year of 2009 until present. Taking into account of the establishment date of the organization, Azerbaijan continues relations as a member of the founding country.
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Azerbaijan–Saudi Arabia relations are the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia.
ITF Enhancing Human Security is a humanitarian, non-profit organization founded by the Republic of Slovenia., which specializes in land mine clearance and post-conflict reconstruction. It was established on 12 March 1998 with the purpose of helping Bosnia and Herzegovina in its post-conflict rehabilitation, specifically with mine clearance and assistance to mine victims.
Azerbaijan–Morocco relations are the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Morocco. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Rabat. Morocco has an embassy in Baku.