Press Release (2005)144 18 Nov. 2005

NATO/PfP project to clear unexploded ordnance in Azerbaijan Background PfP Trust Fund An official opening ceremony of the NATO Partnership for Peace project for the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Azerbaijan was held in Baku on 18 November. NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative to the Caucasus and Central Asia, Mr Robert Simmons, and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Abid Sharifov, took part in the proceedings. Turkey is leading this project to clear approximately 600 hectares of contaminated land around the former Soviet military depots at Saloglu and the nearby towns of Agstafa and Poylu. The aim of the project is to make the contaminated area safe for the local population. The clearance work will be carried out in 16 months at a total cost of EUR 1,16 million. Azerbaijan, Australia, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, United States and United Nations Development Programme UNDP have provided funds to the project. For further information, please contact the NATO Press and Media Service in Brussels, tel. + 32 (0)2 707 50 41, fax: + 32 (0)2 707 50 57.

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