A final reporting meeting devoted to Weapons Contamination
program activities of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society

On 8-11 November, 2009 the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRCS) together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organized a final reporting meeting devoted to activities implemented by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement towards “Weapons Contamination” in Azerbaijan. The venue of the meeting was “Aqua Park” rest center in Novkhani settlement.

Chairpersons of Gazakh, Agstafa, Tovuz, Gedebey, Goygol, Goranboy, Terter, Agdam, Agjabedi and Fizuli local branches of the AzRCS, the Executive Secretary of the National Society Mr. Baylar Talibov, Deputy Executive Secretary Mr. Shaban Shayev, “Weapons Contamination” program advisor Mr.Bayram Veliyev, Head of “Protection” program of the Azerbaijan Delegation of the ICRC Katja Gysin, a responsible person of the ICRC for cooperation with the Az.RCS Mr. Rasim Allazov, a manager of Mine Promotion department of ANAMA (Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action) Mr. Musa Jalalov, a senior official of the same department Mr. Vagif Sadigov participated at the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was to present to the participants a summary report on the activities implemented by the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society within the framework of “Weapons Contamination” program in the western regions of Azerbaijan in 2009, to discuss a summary report and to plan future activities in the field of weapons contamination, to give practical sessions by ANAMA specialists to the chairpersons of local branches of the National Society on how to fill in specially designed data gathering forms on mine/ERW incidents and mine victims.    
The Executive Secretary of the AzRCS Mr. Baylar Talibov who delivered a speech during an official opening ceremony of the meeting highly appreciated an initiative of organizing of such a traditional reporting meeting. He noted that this kind of meetings are very useful  to analyze the activities carried out and to prepare jointly future plans. Mr. Baylar Talibov informed the participants that during the last years “Weapons Contamination” program has been accepted by him and the president of the AzRC Mr. Novruz Aslanov as a priority program of the National Society. He added that as a leadership of the National Society Mr. Novruz Aslanov and as a head of the National Society Secretariat he personally participated more than once at official opening ceremonies of safe playgrounds constructed in front line districts.  The Executive Secretary of the AzRCS also informed the participants that a delegation of the AzRC at a  meeting of the Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which took place in November of this year in Nairobi city of Kenya made a large presentation on weapons contamination activities of the National Society and a cooperation with the ICRC and ANAMA, AzCL agencies in this field.
Then a representative of the ICRC Katja Gysin delivered a speech. Katya Gysin said that the ICRC supports the activities of the National Society in this field and that at the meeting in Nairobi city of Kenya the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopted its Strategy for Weapons Contamination for the next decade.
A representative of ANAMA agency Mr. Musa Jalalov in his speech said that ANAMA agency highly appreciate a cooperation with the Red Crescent in the field of weapons contamination that has been started several years ago. He noted that today according to its mandate the Red Crescent is acting as auxiliary to its government in this field.
After the official part of the meeting a representative of ANAMA Musa Jalalov made a large presentation about population awareness activities on mine risks and explosive remnants of war (ERW) carried out by ANAMA agency and achievements gained in this filed. In his speech a senior official of ANAMA agency Vagif Sadigov highly appreciated the activities implemented within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on “Data gathering on mine/ERW incidents and mine victims” signed between the Red Crescent Society and ANAMA agency in 2007. He presented to the participants of the meeting data gathering forms on mine/ERW incidents and mine victims updated recently by ANAMA agency. A representative of ANAMA agency explained to the participants through simulation exercises how to fill in new data gathering forms.     
On the second day of the meeting Weapons Contamination program advisor of the AzRCS Mr. Bayram Veliyev presented a comprehensive report on the activities implemented by the National Society within Weapons Contamination program. He noted that in 2009 the ICRC covered only some administrative expenses of this program. All other expenses of the program have been covered by the National Society and partnership donor organizations. Thus, in 2009 the Red Crescent supported by HOMS humanitarian organization constructed a total of 3 safe playgrounds ( two safe playgrounds in Terter district and one safe playground in Agdam district). Another one safe playground was constructed in Agstafa district with support of Norwegian Royal Embassy in Azerbaijan. In September 2009 the Red Crescent negotiated with the German Red Cross about the construction of safe playgrounds in 7 front line districts ( Gazakh, Tovuz, Gedebey, Terter, Agdam, Agjabedi and Fizuli districts). The construction of 7 safe playgrounds will be finished in May 2010. Additionally, in November 2009 the National Society negotiated with Trans Global LTD company about the construction of a safe playground in one community of Gazakh district. The opening ceremony will take place in January 2010. It should be mentioned that since the year 2005 the National Red Crescent Society supported by different donors has been implementing “Safe Play Areas” project. So far a total of 46 safe playgrounds have been constructed in communities exposed to danger from mines and explosive remnants of war living in front line districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Mr Bayram Veliyev also informed the participants of the meeting that in 2009 the National Society initiated another new project designed within the framework of “Assistance to mine victims” strategy. In 2009, the Red Crescent started to implement “ Social support to families who lost one of the heads of a family as a result of mine/ERW incidents”. The assessment of social state of families from this category has been done in Terter, Gazakh, Agstafa and Tovuz districts. The families from this category with difficult social state have been registered. At present the projects are in the process of submitting to donors. In July 2009 the National Society with support of an Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the USA Embassy in Azerbaijan Mrs. Anne Dersen allocated one horned cattle and forage to a family with difficult social state in Tovuz district.
The participants of the meeting highly appreciated the projects and activities implemented by the National Society within the “Weapons Contamination” program during the year 2009. The participants decided that the National Society should continue to implement “Safe Play Areas” project within the framework of “Mine risks reduction” strategy as there are still several villages exposed to danger from mines/ERW in front lines districts. It was recommended for the National Society to increase cooperation with donors towards the implementation of “Social support to families who lost one of the heads of a family as a result of mine/ERW incidents” project. Continuation of joint activities with ANAMA agency in the field of data gathering on mine/ERW incidents and mine victims in the coming 2010 was considered as necessary.

On the third day of the meeting the ICRC responsible person for cooperation with the National Society Rasim Allazov spoke about the activities on weapons contamination that the ICRC is planning to implement in the next years. He informed the participants that the projects and activities implemented by the Red Crescent Society within the framework of Weapons Contamination program is close to the ICRC. Therefore the ICRC must support the Red Crescent Society in this field. Mr. Rasim Allazov also made a presentation about safe rules of behavior and conduct for red cross/red crescent employees in time of wars and other accidents.         

Bayram Veliyev
Deputy chairman of the Youth Committee
of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society.
Weapons Contamination program advisor