“The landmine problem in Garabagh and nearby areas remains a major humanitarian challenge, with over 1.5 million mines covering about 12–13% of the country’s territory,” said Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, during a meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan held at Garabagh University.

He stated that since 2020, more than 400 Azerbaijani citizens have been killed or injured in landmine explosions, adding that humanitarian demining therefore remains a continuous priority.

Touching upon the issue of missing persons, the Presidential Assistant stated that the fate of about 4,000 Azerbaijani civilians remains unknown. He added that both domestic and international cooperation mechanisms are being further expanded.

Hikmet Hajiyev emphasized that resolving these humanitarian issues is vital for social justice and lasting peace in the region.