Baku, August 04, 2026 – The Europe Today: Azerbaijan has called on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to play a more active role in supporting humanitarian demining efforts, saying the current level of international assistance remains insufficient to address the country’s extensive needs.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Switzerland’s Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, who is also the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that landmines planted by Armenia continue to pose a serious humanitarian challenge.
Bayramov said that since the 2020 war, a total of 433 people had been affected by landmines, underscoring the continuing threat to civilian lives and post-conflict recovery.
He noted that Azerbaijan was carrying out the majority of its demining operations using its own resources. While acknowledging the support provided by certain countries and international organizations, he said the scale of existing assistance did not match the magnitude of the challenge.
The foreign minister expressed hope that the OSCE would assume a more proactive role in demining activities, strengthen its support for humanitarian initiatives, and contribute to expanding international cooperation in this critical field.
The remarks came during discussions focused on post-conflict humanitarian issues and regional cooperation, with demining identified as a key priority for ensuring safe resettlement and sustainable reconstruction in liberated areas.
