British Ambassador to Azerbaijan James Sharp visited the IEPF's Baku office

Today the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan James Lyle Sharp visited the Baku office of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) and met with the President of the Fund Umud Mirzayev. Earlier, the British ambassador had visited the IEPF's Tartar office and had got acquainted with the organisation's activities in the region.

The IEPF President told the guest about the activities of the organisation he chairs and the work he has done for 30 years. He spoke about the serious mine problem encountering the country after the Patriotic War in the fall of 2020. Ambassador James Sharp said that the United Kingdom is interested in participating in infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan, including many projects related to the mine issue, which is one of the top priorities. He got acquainted with the IEPF's mine-clearing projects with ANAMA, as well as mine risk education programmes.

Umud Mirzayev spoke about the projects implemented by the IEPF in this field. He thanked the British diplomat for the attention and care of the British Embassy in the field of landmines.

"Our main purpose in inviting you here is to help you to become a witness to all of these works," said the IEPF President.

James Sharp thanked Umud Mirzayev for the special invitation to the IEPF head office. In addition, the ambassador shared his impressions of the meeting at the Tartar office.

“While visiting the Tartar office, I got acquainted with the joint activities of ANAMA and the IEPF, and observed the need for more awareness-raising activities in the field of mines. I would like to know what other tools the IEPF uses in this regard. We know that people will soon return to their homes," he said.

The IEPF President informed the Ambassador that the Mine Conference, scheduled for the end of March, has already been agreed at the highest level.

Ambassador James Sharp also touched upon the Ottawa Convention, which is of close interest to the British government and aims to prevent the use of anti-personnel mines. He said that the governments (Azerbaijan and Armenia) are interested in signing the Convention and need information about the prospects of the Convention. In addition, the diplomat asked whether the other side would guarantee mine safety after the signing of the Convention.

Answering the ambassador's question, the IEPF President said that the forthcoming conference is based on principles of the Ottawa Convention. He stressed that the name of the conference is "Mine-free Azerbaijan, safe Karabakh." Umud Mirzayev stressed the need for support in terms of participation and invitation of the most influential people in the conference, as well as the need to convey the problem of landmines to the whole world through them.

During the meeting, the British ambassador also spoke about the activities of women from the demining team in terms of transparency in gender equality and the establishment of a separate women's team in this regard. He noted the importance of conducting special trainings for a group of women.

The British ambassador also met with the IEPF project team and got acquainted with the projects implemented by the organisation in various areas. The participants of the project informed about the initiatives of the world-famous economist, author of the book "Banker to the Poor", Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus on the project "3Zero".

Umud Mirzayev presented to the ambassador a music album by Philip Roche, Deputy Director of the British School in Baku, dedicated to the activities of the IEPF. The short notes on the back of the album especially attracted the guest's attention. The album contains notes on the invaluable assistance of Umud Mirzayev and his team to IDPs who lost their homes and their humanitarian activities.

Umud Mirzayev also spoke about the activities of the IEPF in the field of education. He told the ambassador about the IEPF Vocational Training Centres in the region and the trainings held there.