The leader of the Milli Majlis Working Group for inter-parliamentary connexions Azerbaijan-France Soltan Mammadov and the Group’s members met with the members of France’s National Commission for Elimination of Anti-Personnel Mines on 14 October.

Soltan Mammadov mentioned that Azerbaijan had liberated its lands after thirty years of Armenian occupation a year ago and emphasised the germane timing of the National Commission members’ arrival in our country. He talked about the current condition of the Azerbaijani-French relations and, while at it, stressed the need to keep up a constructive dialogue for their continued development.

As for the new opportunities arising in the region, Mr Mammadov mentioned the problem of the minefields obstructing Azerbaijan’s restoration and rebuilding work done in the liberated territories and pointed out that those areas had to be swept of mines. The blasts of the mines planted by Armenia have killed or wounded 150 Azerbaijani civilians and military personnel since the end of the war, according to Mr Mammadov.

If Armenia let Azerbaijan have all the minefield maps that are there, it would avert the current threat to the lives and health of thousands of our compatriots. Besides, it would lead to acceleration of the de-occupied lands’ restoration and the internally displaced people’s return there.

Chairman of France’s National Commission for Liquidation of Anti-Personnel Mines Gérard Senelle informed his vis-à-vis about the Commission and about France’s experience in handling the problems of mines and unexploded ordnance. M-r Senelle proceeded to disclose the intention of the National Commission to co-operate with Azerbaijan in this area.

Chairman of the Milli Majlis Defence, Security and Counter-Corruption Committee Ziyafet Asgarov, Kamal Jafarov of the aforementioned Milli Majlis Working Group, a member of France’s National Assembly Fabien Gutfarb, Secretary General of the above-said French Commission Yves Marek and Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross took part in the conversation as well.

The other participants of that meeting were a member of the Working Group for inter-parliamentary connexions Azerbaijan-France Nigyar Arpadarai, Hélène Sabaton of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other officials.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis