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Swiss FM: Mine clearance is one of the most important humanitarian challenges facing Azerbaijan

Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ignazio Cassis

04 August 2026 13:45 (UTC +04:00)

Mine clearance in Azerbaijan will continue for many years and remains one of the country's most significant humanitarian challenges, Swiss Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ignazio Cassis said at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, APA reports.

Cassis said that mines pose a serious obstacle to people's safety and normal lives.

"Mines are a very serious problem. Clearing them takes decades. It is essential to completely clear the land of mines so that it can be used again for agriculture, people can return to their homes, and children can play safely," he stressed.

The Swiss foreign minister noted that his country supports various states in the field of humanitarian demining.

"Humanitarian demining is a very important area for us. For example, we have allocated 100 million Swiss francs for this purpose in Ukraine, making us the third-largest donor in this field. At present, I cannot provide information about specific projects between the OSCE and Azerbaijan, but I know that this issue is also important for the organization," Ignazio Cassis added.

Ilgar Khudiyev

Switzerland Ignazio Cassis Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov OSCE humanitarian demining landmines mine clearance humanitarian challenges Ukraine South Caucasus