A special session organized within the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was held in Agdam city, Report informs.

The session attended by local and international representatives was dedicated to the topic ‘Impact of landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordinances on cultural property’.

An exhibition on the impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance on cultural property was organized at the conference.

In addition, a short informative film about the danger of landmines and protection against it was shown.

Welcoming the guests, the Deputy Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Aghdam, Fuzuli, Khojavand regions, Bashir Hajiyev said that he was glad to see the forum participants in Aghdam, the ancient land of Azerbaijan, which was occupied for 30 years and whose cultural and historical monuments were destroyed.

Hajiyev, who gave information about the construction work carried out in Aghdam, noted that 292 families will be relocated to Kangarli village, 719 to Khidirli village, and 203 to Sarijali village of the region.

In particular, Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov said that during the 30-year occupation, the rich cultural heritage of Aghdam was destroyed, looted and stolen. The Deputy Minister emphasized that this is a city of ruins, where about 1.5 million landmines are buried.

Speaking at the session, Raymond Bondin, Chairman of the Maltese National Commission for UNESCO, cultural heritage expert, said that the landmine problem is a negative image for a country with an ancient and great history like Azerbaijan. He noted that some of the forum participants refused to visit Aghdam because of security reasons. Bondin expressed his gratitude the government of Azerbaijan for the reconstruction work.

Ramil Azizov, Head of International and Public Relations Department of the Azerbaijan’s Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), made a presentation and informed the participants about the danger of landmines in the liberated areas.

He said that 248,000 hectares of land in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur were contaminated with mines at a high level, and 780,000 hectares at a medium and low level.

Azizov added that after anti-terrorist operations, numerous landmines were discovered in the territories of Khojaly and Khankandi.

Within the framework of the session, the reports of Qadeem Tariq, UNDP Programme Specialist, Krista Pikkat, online (tbc) Director, Culture and Emergencies, Culture Sector, UNESCO (Resolution), Webber Ndoro, Director of the Islamic World Heritage Center (tbc) were heard, and discussions were held about the threat of landmines and ways to protect against them.

12:25
A special session within the framework of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has kicked off in Aghdam, Report informs.

The session attended by local and international representatives was dedicated to the topic ‘Impact of landmines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded ordinances on cultural property’.

12:00
The visit of the participants of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku to the liberated Aghdam has begun, Report informs.

Local and international representatives participated in the special session on ‘Impact of landmines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded ordinances on cultural property’ held at Aghdam Conference Center within the framework of the forum.

After the session, participants are expected to visit Aghdam Juma Mosque, Bread Museum, Imarat Complex, Drama Theater, and its ruins.

10:37
The visit of the participants of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku to the liberated territories has begun, Report's correspondent, seconded to Fuzuli, informs.

According to the information, the participants will attend a special session on ‘Impact of landmines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded ordinances on cultural property’ to be held in Aghdam within the framework of the forum.

At the session, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, Farid Jafarov, and the and the Head of Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Gaya Mammadov, will deliver a report.

There will also be speeches by Qadeem Tariq, UNDP Programme Specialist, Krista Pikkat, Online (TBC) Director, Culture and Emergencies, Culture Sector, UNESCO (Resolution), and other guests.