DUSHANBE, February 22, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan intends to submit a number of anti-landmine projects for consideration to NATO.
Parviz Mavlonqulov, program coordinator at Tajik Mine Action Cell (TMAC), said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the projects, including the one on purchasing demining machines, will be presented at a roundtable meeting formally titled “Participation of NATO in Demining Programs” that will be held in Washington from February 22-23.
TMAC director Jonmahmad Rajabov is representing Tajikistan at this meeting.
Mavlonqulov added that the results of demining operations in Tajikistan will also be presented at the meeting in Washington.
Over the past four years, the demining teams have detected and neutralized 2,462 landmines and 767 unexploded ordnance (UXOs) on more than 460,000 square meters of lands, according to him. .
The TMAC official also said that last year, Tajikistan submitted 10 projects for a total mount of $5 million for consideration the United Nations. “The projects are aimed at clearing minefields and raising awareness of landmines and UXOs, as well as providing assistance to landmine victims,” Mavlonqulov said.
Demining programs in Tajikistan is supported by the OSCE, the United Nations, the European Union, and the government of Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.
