Azerbaijan has brought attention to the critical issue of landmines by proposing it as the 18th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov, also the Chairman of the National Coordinating Council for Sustainable Development, highlighted this initiative during the 4th Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Dialogue in Baku, Ednews reports.

During his address at the event, Ahmadov emphasized the urgent need to address the landmine crisis, particularly in the recently liberated areas. He revealed that over one million anti-personnel mines were buried in these regions, posing a significant threat to civilians even after the cessation of hostilities.

Ahmadov drew a striking comparison, stating, "According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, 15 million people have died as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, this is a great tragedy, but if we consider the number of landmines buried in Azerbaijan, we will see that the difference is huge."

Despite the cessation of hostilities, Azerbaijan continues to grapple with the aftermath of the conflict, with landmines claiming lives and causing injuries. Ahmadov expressed optimism that Azerbaijan's efforts to address the landmine issue would gain traction at the international level, particularly within the United Nations.

He asserted, "The cultural world will not turn a blind eye to this problem, and the mine problem will be one of the main topics of the agenda." Ahmadov's remarks underscored the gravity of the landmine crisis not only in Azerbaijan but also globally, with approximately one-third of the world's population affected by this issue.

As Azerbaijan takes proactive steps to address the landmine problem, it seeks support from the international community to make it a focal point of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.