Katowice: Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev addressed the issue of mine clearance during his speech at the 'Housing at the Center of Post-Crisis Recovery and Reconstruction' event at WUF13. Rafiyev emphasized the significant financial and logistical challenges faced by Azerbaijan in rebuilding efforts post-conflict.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Azerbaijan has spent approximately 15 billion US dollars on reconstruction, allocating around 25 percent of the state budget annually for this purpose. Rafiyev highlighted that the presence of 1.5 million mines posed a critical barrier to initiating recovery and reconstruction. Despite being financially prepared and having favorable political conditions, the mine situation made it impossible to enter affected territories and commence rebuilding efforts.

Rafiyev pointed out that Azerbaijan's approach over the past few years serves as a model for other conflict-affected countries. He stressed the importance of building back better, even when starting from scratch, and noted that Azerbaijan's significant financial commitment exemplifies the necessary investment for successful post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.