During a meeting held at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Brussels, Elchin Amirbayov, Special Representative of President Ilham Aliyev, presented an overview of Azerbaijan’s current diplomatic agenda, the humanitarian situation in territories affected by the conflict, and the country’s regional connectivity projects. Throughout the briefing, he shared several maps, charts and statistical documents detailing mine contamination levels, victim data, demining operations and reconstruction-related expenditures.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Amirbayov reiterated that the conclusion of a peace agreement, according to Azerbaijan’s position, requires mutual recognition of territorial integrity, clear and definitive border delimitation, and the establishment of mechanisms aimed at preventing incidents. He noted that recent technical progress had been achieved in discussions between Baku and Yerevan and emphasized the need to consolidate these developments in order to ensure long-term stability in the South Caucasus.
A significant portion of the presentation focused on mine contamination in formerly occupied territories. Graphs and tables shown during the meeting reported that since 1991, more than 3,400 individuals have been victims of landmines and other explosive devices in Azerbaijan. The data provided differentiates between civilian and military victims, as well as between incidents occurring before and after the 2020 war. Since November 2020, several hundred additional casualties have been recorded, including both fatalities and injuries among civilians, security personnel and demining teams.
The maps and documents distributed by Amirbayov also indicated the geographical scope of contamination. According to the figures presented, an estimated 11,667 square kilometers remain affected, representing approximately 13.4 percent of the national territory. To date, 2,427 square kilometers have been cleared, amounting to roughly 20.8 percent of contaminated areas. The government has identified 232,522 explosive devices, including 169,972 unexploded ordnances and 62,550 mines. These include 39,728 antipersonnel mines and 22,822 antitank mines.
Amirbayov also noted that mine contamination remains a major obstacle to the return of internally displaced persons. Out of approximately 800,000 displaced individuals, only around 23,000 have been able to return to reconstructed regions. Financial data provided during the briefing showed that since November 2020, the Azerbaijani government has allocated 464 million USD to demining and reconstruction efforts, while international assistance totals 23.9 million USD. Thirteen countries and eleven organizations currently contribute to demining support.
The briefing included a detailed presentation of regional transport maps, including those related to the Zangezur Corridor, which is designed to connect mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. These maps situate the corridor within the broader framework of the Middle Corridor, a major transit route linking China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Türkiye. The materials provided highlight existing railway lines, upgraded sections and planned infrastructure projects. According to Amirbayov, these initiatives aim to strengthen regional connectivity, diversify trade routes and support broader stabilization efforts in the South Caucasus.
Regarding relations between Azerbaijan and Belgium, Amirbayov stated that several areas of cooperation hold potential for development, including energy, security, technological innovation and transport infrastructure. He remarked that Brussels, as the political center of the European Union, provides a suitable environment for advancing bilateral and institutional engagement.
He also recalled that Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is based on a strategy of diversified partnerships involving the European Union, Türkiye, Gulf countries and Russia. This multi-vector approach, he explained, is oriented toward economic cooperation, connectivity and regional stability while safeguarding national sovereignty.
The information, maps, charts and statistics presented during the briefing offer a detailed overview of Azerbaijan’s current diplomatic priorities, its reconstruction challenges and its long-term regional transport strategy.
Isaac Hammouch is a Belgian-Moroccan journalist and writer. Author of several books and opinion columns, he focuses on societal issues, governance and contemporary global transformations.
