Heidi Kuhn, the founder and CEO of the international humanitarian organization "Roots of Peace", one of the world’s leading organizations, within the framework of Mine Action Program, visited Azerbaijan on May 9-13, organized by Azerbaijan Republic Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) and the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF).
EDnews reports that the purpose of the visit of Heidi Kuhn, who visited Azerbaijan for the second time, is to bring to the attention of the world community the scale of the mine problem in the liberated territories of our country, the obstacles this problem creates to the Great Return and stability and lasting peace in the region, and to support the transformation of land contaminated by mines into agricultural land under the "Mines to Vines", and as well as on the occasion of the International Mother's Day, together with Azerbaijani mothers, to make a global appeal to the women of the world regarding the landmine problem.
On the first day of the visit - May 9, Heidi Kuhn, Heidi Kuhn, accompanied by Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Republic Mine Action Agency Vugar Suleymanov, President of the IEPF Umud Mirzayev and Eldar Seyidov, the Senior Advisor of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories included in the Karabakh economic region (except Shusha region), visited the liberated, destroyed and mine-contaminated areas of Fuzuli district. Ms. Kuhn, who got acquainted with the devastation caused by the enemy in the liberated areas, the large-scale humanitarian demining activities carried out in these areas, the reconstruction and infrastructure projects implemented for the return of the former internally displaced persons to their lands, then participated in the detonation of 6 anti-tank mines in the area where the demining operations were conducted.
After the meeting with the demining team, a joint statement was made to the women of the world in the Ashagi Abdurrahmanli village, Fuzuli district, with the participation of Heidi Kuhn, Aysaba Mirzayeva, a member of the International Eurasia Press Fund's Board of Trustees, and the local women of the mentioned village, the surrounding villages of Karabakh, family members of 8 landmine victims, and internally displaced persons. A total of 47 women signed the statement in two languages at the meeting held in the Ashaghi Abdürrahmanli village. The signatories of the statement hope that the women and mothers of the world will not remain silent and support their request to solve the problem of landmines. Heidi Kuhn also carried out the "Roots of Peace" tree planting campaign at Horadiz base of ANAMA in Fuzuli district and in the Ashagi Abdürrahmanli village.
On May 10, Heidi Kuhn, together with ANAMA and IEPF management, visited the grave of the national leader Heydar Aliyev on the occasion of his 100th anniversary and tribute to his dear rememberance. After the visit, Heidi Kuhn joined ANAMA's tree planting campaign on this important day and gave a global message to the world from there. Heidi Kuhn, along with IEPF President Umud Mirzayev, in the hospital visited IEPF employee Khazar Babashov, who lost a leg as a result of a mine explosion in Sugovushan, on April 26 this year, and wished him well.
On May 11, the ceremony of announcing the name of the winner of the "World Food Prize Laureate 2023" nomination, which was broadcast live from the US Department of State's National Academy of Sciences, was held at the Baku Nobel Club by one of the nominees, Heidi Kuhn, with the participation of ANAMA and IEPF management, parliamentarians, representatives of international organizations, and valuable guests. followed. Secretary of the US Department of State Anthony Blinken announced the name of Heidi Kuhn, who was declared the winner of this important award for 2023, and emphasized that she is currently continuing her mission in Azerbaijan.
On May 12, the presentation ceremony of Heidi Kuhn's book "Breaking Ground" dedicated to mine danger, translated into Azerbaijani and published by IEPF, was held in the administrative building of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS). That event the lady attended herself was attended by also Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Republic Mine Action Agency Vugar Suleymanov, the President of the IEPF Umud Mirzayev, the Rector of the Baku Higher Oil School Elmar Gasimov, as well as members of the Public Council under ANAMA and students of BHOS. Later, a similar "Roots of Peace" tree planting campaign took place in the university yard.
Also, it should be noted that during the visit of Heidi Kuhn to Azerbaijan, she had official meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev and the liberated territories included in the Karabakh economic region (except Shusha region) the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Emin Huseynov.
On May 13, Heidi Kuhn's visit to Azerbaijan ended and she returned to her homeland, the United States.
