Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan’s National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) detected a PG-7 anti-tank grenade in Tartar region of Azerbaijan on July 7.

The unexploded ordnance (UXO) was found as a result of inspection in the pasture of Shikharkh village, Trend reports.

Moreover, the agency checked the pastures of Ahmadaghaly village in Agdam region and found two UXOs (an artillery shell and the remains of Grad rocket “9M22U”).

Overall, ANAMA inspected a territory of 5,500 square meters on July 7.

For April 7 - July 7, 621 houses and household plots, 30 farms, five rural schools, two military units and rural cemeteries, a medical center, metal stock, winery and acreages in Zardab, Tartar, Shamkir, Agjabedi, Agdam, Fizuli, Tovuz, Goranboy, Samukh, Shamkir, Jalilabad, Ujar, Barda, Astara, Agstafa regions, Mingachevir, Ganja, Baku and Sumgayit were inspected by ANAMA. As a result, 1,577 UXOs, 18 anti-personnel and 15 anti-tank mines were detected and neutralized.

Currently, special rapid response 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 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.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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