Today an event has been held at the office of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) in connection with the petition to hand over the map of the mined areas by Armenia to Azerbaijan. The IEPF President Umud Mirzayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association Rey Karimoglu, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Mine Ban Campaign Hafiz Safikhanov, Chairman of "Dayag" the Non-Governmental Humanitarian Organisation Shahin Ibrahimov, Chairman of the Public Union "Assistance in Solving the Socio-Economic Problems of Mine Victims" Mammadhasan Hasanov, well-known public figures Chingiz Abdullayev, Azer Garibov, Israeli international expert Arye Gut and media representatives have also attended the event.
Speaking at the event, Umud Mirzayev said that the biggest problem facing Azerbaijan after the signing of the November 10 agreement is the pollution of the liberated territories with mines:
"The biggest problem that slows down the restoration of infrastructure in the liberated areas, construction of roads and power grids and the return of the population is the problem of mine pollution. The President of the country has repeatedly appealed on this issue. At the same time, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister appealed to Armenia to submit maps of the mined areas. However, Armenia has turned this issue into a bargaining chip in order to gain various dividends. This has a very negative impact on the restoration work in the region. Since the signing of the capitulation act, more than 85 official incidents have taken place, killing and injuring many people. On March 25, 5 NGOs appealed to international organisations in this regard. We visited Tartar, Aghdam and Fizuli in connection with the Mine Awareness Day celebrated on April 4. We saw with our own eyes the degree of pollution from mines in those places. Imagine that the savage enemy not only destroyed our buildings, monuments, and schools. At the same time, they created a large barrier surrounded by mines. We launched a petition on April 8. We appealed to international organisations and civil society organisations to push Armenia. To date, the petition has been signed by more than 12,000 people, up from 15,000. More than 20,000 people shared the petition. These people want the petition to be distributed and signed. However, it seems that there are some problems with signing, but they can not sign."
Speaking later, Chingiz Abdullayev said that the Armenians still want revenge, but it will never happen for them.
"Our President has repeatedly said that this issue is closed forever. But the war does not end there. In just 4-5 months, 85 people have been killed by landmines, and this number is unfortunately increasing. Mine contamination covers a large area, and the Armenian side is resorting to provocation by refusing to provide the maps of minefields. They are well aware that civilians, children, women and the elderly will die in the mined areas. Armenians buried mines, especially near cemeteries and mosques. While I was in Lviv with my parents in 1964, a child died by a mine left from the World War II. Now we have the same process and we can not remain indifferent to this issue, we must all take it seriously. No matter where we live tomorrow, we may have relatives, children and loved ones going to those areas. It has been said many times: Karabakh is Azerbaijan and it is a sacred land. I would like no one else to die in this holy land. I would like to see no war, no loss of our lands and no fires of weapons, no martyrdom. Our neighbours must also understand this."
A well-known blogger Azer Garibov, who attended the event, said Armenia and Armenians have historically presented themselves as a civilized nation.
"In modern times, even the most brutal armies are creating something in the occupied territories. Armenians did not create anything, only destroyed, demolished, stole and barbarized. While others planted trees, they mined the land. This is another clear example of how far Armenia is from cultural values. The whole world sees how cruel and anti-human they are. It is our duty to demosntrate this barbarism and cruelty to the world. I urge everyone to sign this petition. Whether they give the maps or not, the train named Azerbaijan is already on the way and it is impossible to stop it. Let's sign and support."
Israeli expert Arye Gut, who joined the event via video from Zangilan, said he witnessed the destroyed areas.
“Armenians were looking for nothing but the destruction of those places, the massacre. The purpose was to touch the pride of the Azerbaijani people. There is a danger of mines at every step. I urge everyone to join this petition."
Later, public figures joined the petition and addressed the public.
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