<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="content-type"> <title>AzCBL News</title> </head> <body> <table style="text-align: left; width: 100px;" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img style="width: 751px; height: 148px;" alt="Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines" src="Images/Website%20Banner.gif"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="text-align: left; width: 762px;" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 174px; direction: ltr;"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="index.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Home</span></a><br> <br style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span> <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="AzCBL%20News.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> AzCBL News</span></a><br style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <br style="font-weight: bold; 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font-weight: bold;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span><a href="http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/azerbaijan"><img style="border: 0px solid ; width: 102px; height: 75px;" alt="Azerbaijan 2006 Landmine Monitor Report" src="Images/Az-LM-2006.gif"></a><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span><br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.icbl.org"><img style="border: 0px solid ; width: 104px; height: 63px;" alt="International Campaign to Ban Landmines" src="Images/ICBL%20Logo.gif"></a><br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><img style="width: 130px; height: 51px;" alt="Mine Ban Treaty" src="Images/Mine%20Ban%20Treaty.gif"></span><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.icbl.org/tools/faq/treaty?eZSESSIDicbl=39080177f11158ce0416b16ef06ca7cd"><img style="border: 0px solid ; width: 106px; height: 23px;" alt="Mine Ban Treaty Info" src="Images/Treaty%20Info.gif"></a></span><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.icbl.org/content/download/12961/275260/file/treatyazeri.pdf"><img style="border: 0px solid ; width: 106px; height: 23px;" alt="Text in Azeri" src="Images/Text%20in%20Azeri.gif"></a></span><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.icbl.org/content/download/7050/165094/file/treatyenglish.pdf"><img style="border: 0px solid ; width: 106px; height: 23px;" alt="Text in English" src="Images/Text%20in%20English.gif"></a></span><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.icbl.org/content/download/12950/275066/file/treatyrussian.pdf"><img style="border: 0px solid ; width: 106px; height: 22px;" alt="Text in Russian" src="Images/Text%20in%20Russian.gif"></a></span><br> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"></span></td> <td style="width: 568px; vertical-align: top;"><big style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Impact; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><big><big>AzCBL News<br> </big></big></big><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> </span>15 May 2008<br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br> </span></span>The AzCBL has published two recent information bulletins. &nbsp;They can be accessed here or at the bottom of the page with the archive<br> <br> <ul> <li>Information Bulletin #6, January 2008 - <a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/User/Desktop/Information%20Bulletin%20-%20January%202008.pdf">English</a></li> <li>Information Bulletin #5, Annual 2007 - <a href="../PDF%20Files/InformationBulletin12007.pdf">English</a></li> </ul> <br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">25 August 2007</span><br> <br> <div style="text-align: justify;">On August 23rd 2007, representatives from eight different countries in the region met in the Azerbaijani capital for an ICBL workshop concerning the issue of cluster munitions, funded by the Norwegian Embassy in Azerbaijan through the Eurasia Foundation. Campaigners and researches from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Turkey gathered together with representatives from ICBL and the Norwegian Embassy in Baku in order to raise awareness on the topic and articulate the need to advance the goals of the Oslo process to ban cluster munitions. Cluster munitions present a significant barrier to development within the region, as three states (Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and the Russian region of Chechnya) are affected by the use of cluster munitions in the past while other states attending the workshop still stockpile these weapons. <br> <br> Cluster munitions, or cluster bombs, are military weapons used to disperse numerous smaller sub-munitions over large areas when attacking an adversary. Due to the high failure rates of sub-munitions, many never detonate on impact and pose a serious threat to civilians even long after an armed conflict has ended. Over the two-day conference, the goal of the ICBL was to establish a common understanding of the negative effects that cluster munitions pose while streamlining regional strategies for advocating the eventual elimination of this harmful weapon. <br> <br> The two-day conference in Baku began with a series of presentations and round-table forums that were designed to both engage and educate members of Azerbaijan's civil society. The topics that were covered included the technical characteristics of cluster munitions, their effects, their physical footprint, data collection, and casualty reporting. Lively discussions and active question periods ensured a comprehensive approach to the subject matter, allowing everyone in attendance the opportunity to discuss their own countries' situations. <br> <br> The second day of the workshop concentrated on developing a regional strategy toward advancing the Oslo process to ban cluster munitions within the former Soviet Union and Turkey. Each regional campaigner spoke about their individual advocacy experiences and was able to receive feedback on how to pragmatically proceed with their work. By the conclusion of the workshop it had been demonstrated that there is promise in pursuing the issue of cluster munitions within the region and that cooperation and education play an integral role in the advocacy of the Oslo process. <br> <br> Having engaged anti-cluster munitions campaigners and various civil society actors in the region, an extensive series of meetings were organized by the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines and visiting ICBL delegates in order to directly interact with the government of Azerbaijan and other regional organizations. These included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, ANAMA, Council of Europe, European Commission, UNHCR, UNICEF, OSCE, among others. The talks were aimed at increasing awareness of the cluster munition problem in Azerbaijan while lobbying the government to take the appropriate steps toward participation in the Oslo Process. <br> <br> In other news, the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines (AzCBL) continues to work diligently on its new data collection project, the &lsquo;Cluster Munitions Monitoring and Information Campaign in Azerbaijan&rsquo;, which will be focusing on the Azerbaijani regions of Fizuli, Tovuz, and Ter-Ter. Started in August, the six-month project aims to provide reliable empirical data on the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions within Azerbaijani territory in order to better understand the true scope of the problem. </div> <br> <br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">24 July 2007</span><br> <br> <div style="text-align: justify;">In response to a letter written by the Director of ANAMA that directly attacked the past work and credibility of our organization, the head of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and 1997 Nobel Laureate, Jody Williams, defended the AzCBL by responding to the allegations. Mrs. Williams' letter in defence of AzCBL can be read <a href="jodywilliamslettertoanama.pdf"> here</a>. </div> <br> <br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">16 January 2007</span><br> <br> <div style="text-align: justify;">On January 14th the AzCBL met with well known Canadian military and war journalist Scott Taylor to conduct an interview on the landmine situation in Azerbaijan. &nbsp;The AzCBL director and Mr. Taylor discussed at length the specifics of the landmine situation in the county, Azerbaijan's unfavourable position towards the Ottawa Convention, and the ever increasing number of mine victims in the country. &nbsp;Mr. Taylor left the following day with the Azerbaijani military to the conflict's front lines and was expected to encounter the mine problem again during the visit. &nbsp;A link to Mr. Taylor's article regarding Azerbaijan will be posted upon its publication.<br> </div> <br> <br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">15 December 2006<br> <br> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;">The AzCBL<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>regrets to report that effective immediately all organizational ties with the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance - Slovenia&nbsp;have been cut.<br> <br> After several months of co-operative work in preparation for the launch of what would have been the largest independent Victim Assistance project ever in Azerbaijan, the&nbsp;International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assitance - Slovenia signed a memorandum of understanding with the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) in September 2006, thereby putting all projects administered by the&nbsp;International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance - Slovenia in Azerbaijan under the effective control of the ANAMA. &nbsp;Moreover, the project developed by the AzCBL was presented to ANAMA by the&nbsp;International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance - Slovenia without permission or even notification. <br> <br> This is the second time the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance - Slovenia has, under pressure from ANAMA, refused to finance a previously agreed upon project of the AzCBL. &nbsp;These events have taken an enormous toll on the AzCBL, especially considering the financial and time commitments incurred over several months of work, starting in December 2005. &nbsp;To have been treated in this way has been extremely disappointing, and has been a huge setback to the organization as preparations are being made for 2007's work. <br> <br> Any further information relevant to this issue will be published as it becomes available.&nbsp; <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> <br> <br> 21 November 2006</span><br> <br> <div style="text-align: justify;">From 14-16 November the AzCBL collaborated with the&nbsp;International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in hosting a workshop for regional journalists at the Xanlar regional base of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA). &nbsp;The seminar was entitled "What Role Can Journalists Play in Mine Action". In total, 8&nbsp;journalists took part, 7 representing local newspapers and television, as well as one journalist who was invited from Chechnya. &nbsp;AzCBL Director Hafiz Safikhanov gave a presentation on the Mine Ban Treaty entitled "World Tendencies After Signing the Ottawa Convention"<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>as part of three days of activities, presentations, and discussion on the issue of land mines in Azerbaijan. &nbsp;In addition to the Ottawa Convention, presentations were given on preventative mine action and survivor assistance. &nbsp;The final day included an excursion to Ter-Ter region where the participants observed and were given a demonstration of de-mining work being carried out by the International Eurasia Press Fund through the support of ANAMA. Later in the day, journalists met with NGO's working on the economic and social reintegration of mine survivors through vocational training and the establishment of a mine survivors association.&nbsp; After having completed the conference, it&nbsp; is hoped that by having informed regional journalists about the land mine problem in depth, that rather than just reporting on grim statistics, they will be able to play a more informed and active role&nbsp;in sensitizing and informing the local populations about the mine problem Azerbaijan. &nbsp;<br> <br> Information Manager of ANAMA, Aziz Aliyev, noted that the media is not providing people with opportunities of "effectively" spending their free time, but for sensitizing them to the problems of their country and their communities, mobilizing for solutions of these problems with mine problem involved. &nbsp;"Nobody can remain indifferent to mine threat and to those who suffers from it," he stressed.<br> <br> Tofiq Yusif, chief editor of "Yeni Terter" newspaper said: "During this workshop I became aware that the mine problem is a serious problem for the civilian population and the attention should be paid to this issue constantly. &nbsp;Apart from providing information to the public, which we did so far, we should educate people about safe behavior and how to protect themselves from this threat. &nbsp;We as journalists have a moral responsibility to support mine victims and therefore we have to present their problems to the society. &nbsp;As of today I have decided that this issue should be regularly on the agenda of our newspaper bearing in mind the high level of risk existing in Terter region."<br> <br> By working together, the journalists and mine action actors can effectively contribute to reducing the risk from mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) for the civilian population. The stories about victims and other problems caused by mines and ERW, published by journalists raise the awareness about the devastating effect of these weapons on people's lives - and of possible solutions - and contribute to the overall efforts to reduce impact," Herbi Elmazi, ICRC Regional Mine Action Advisor of CIS countries, said.<big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;" lang="EN-US"></span></big></big></big></big></big></big></big></big></big> <br> <br> Speaking on behalf of the AzCBL on the mine situation in Azerbaijan and what he hopes will result from the conference, Safikhanov stated that, "In the Caucuses region, Azerbaijan is faced with the biggest mine problem, but it has also formulated the biggest response. &nbsp;Indeed, Azerbaijan is the leader in mine action in the region. &nbsp;However, we hope that this conference and others like it, will result in expanded media coverage and increase the profile of the mine issue throughout the country, and we sincerely hope that Azerbaijan will present the voluntary article 7 on transparency of the Ottawa Convention which they have promised to do, and that&nbsp;these will all be small steps on the road to eventually signing the Ottawa Convention, and a mine free Azerbaijan." <br> <br> <br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">3 November 2006</span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>On the 31st of October and 1st of November, the AzCBL welcomed the international NGO "<a href="http://www.genevacall.org">Geneva Call</a>" to Baku for two days of meetings regarding their current project on involving non-state actors in mine action through their "Deed of Commitment" which is intended to act as a complementary document to the Ottawa Convention. &nbsp;Over the course of their stay, meetings were held with the ICRC head of delegation in Azerbaijan, Martin Amacer; with Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan Republic and personal representative of the President on Nagorno-Karabakh Affairs; with the director of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action Nazim Ismaylov; with the head of the&nbsp;delegation of Europe House in Azerbaijan, Wolfgang Sporrer; and with the Ambassador of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ange Kasprzyk. &nbsp;Due to the highly sensitive nature of Geneva Call's upcoming work involving meetings with the de-facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh, the meetings were held to build an open and transparent relationship between Geneva Call and Azeri authorities, and to state in no uncertain terms that Geneva Call's work has no political motivation, and that in no way does engaging with a non-state actor on a humanitarian issue such as this bestow any legitimacy upon the de-facto authorities. &nbsp;The meetings were successful and will hopefully mark the start of a successful and transparent working relationship on this issue.<br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">20 October 2006</span></span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span>From the 18th to 20th of October, the AzCBL welcome the Georgian NGO "Disarmament and Non-Violence" to Azerbaijan. &nbsp;The NGO is in the process of shooting a documentary film in collaboration with "Geneva Call" on the land mine problem in the Caucuses. &nbsp;The trip allowed them to gather some excellent footage and photographs. &nbsp;They succeeded in&nbsp; interviewing the ICRC Head of Mission in Azerbaijan, Martin Amacher as well as ICRC Regional Mine Action Specialist Herbi Elmazi, in addition to candid interviews with several mine survivors about their experiences and their current situations. &nbsp;Their visit also happened to coincide with the opening of the first "Safe Play Area" of 2006 in Fizuli Region. &nbsp;Safe Play Areas are a project of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Azerbaijan National Red Crescent Society. They are fenced play areas for children which are certified to be free&nbsp;from mines. &nbsp;They are a very practical way of protecting children from mines, in hopes that&nbsp;by creating a safe place for them to play,&nbsp;they will stay clear of dangerous and uncleared territory.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br> <br> <br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">15 September 2006</span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>On September 13th, the AzCBL held a press conference and the International Press Center in Baku to launch the <a href="http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006">2006 edition of Landmine Monitor</a>. &nbsp;Representatives from nine newspapers, five news agencies, and two television networks were in attendance. &nbsp;AzCBL Director Hafiz Safikhanov presented the major findings of the eighth annual report as well as an in depth report on the landmine situation in Azerbaijan. &nbsp;Monitoring of the press over the following couple of days revealed a positive media response in all formats (radio, TV, internet,&nbsp; the press) and across all sectors (state-controlled, opposition, independent).<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><br> View the AzCBL's Newsletters:<br> <ul> <li>Information Bulletin #6, January 2008 - <a href="../PDF%20Files/InformationBulletinJanuary2008.pdf">English</a></li> <li>Information Bulletin #5, Annual 2007 - <a href="../PDF%20Files/InformationBulletin12007.pdf">English</a></li> <li>Information Bulletin #4, February 2006 - <a href="Bulletin%20%234%20English.pdf">English</a> - <a href="Bulletin%20%234%20Azeri.pdf">Azeri</a></li> <li>Information Bulletin #3, November 2005 - <a href="Bulletin%20%233%20English.pdf">English</a> - <a href="Bulletin%20%233%20Azeri.pdf">Azeri</a></li> <li>Information Bulletin #2, September 2005 - <a href="Bulletin%20%232%20English.pdf">English</a>&nbsp;- <a href="Bulletin%20%232%20Azeri.pdf">Azeri</a></li> <li>Information Bulletin # 1, August 2005 - <a href="Bulletin%20%231%20English.pdf">English</a> - <a href="Bulletin%20%231%20Azeri.pdf">Azeri</a></li> <br> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"></span><span lang="EN-CA">In total, from June 1998 to </span><span style="" lang="EN-US">December</span><span lang="EN-CA"> 2006, the AzCBL has conducted 40 monthly bulletins, 34 press conferences and 25 seminars and has been published in the newspaper with more than 300 articles and interviews.</span></div> <ul> <br> <br> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br> </body> </html>