ANAMA discovers UXOs in Agdam, Tartar

/By Azernews/

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) detected several unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in Agdam and Tartar regions of Azerbaijan on July 21.

The Agency inspected an area of 2,800 square meters in Makhrizli village of Agdam region. As a result, ANAMA found and removed pieces of exploded ammunition.

In addition, they inspected three explosion locations and detected pieces of unexploded ordnance in Hasangaya village of Tartar region. In another village of Tartar, ANAMA examined a crater on an acreage area that resulted in detection of another UXO -- 152-millimeter artillery shell OF-530.

Teams of ANAMA with minesweeper dogs continue their operations for detecting UXOs in the border settlements.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.