(Phnom Penh): The ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) welcomed a high-level delegation from the Republic of Azerbaijan on 11 May 2026 at ARMAC's Permanent Secretariat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The delegation was led by Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Special Assignment, and was accompanied by Shovgi Mehdizada, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic; Samir Malikli, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and Rashid Mammadov, Lead Adviser at the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The visit marks a continued and deepening engagement between Azerbaijan and ARMAC, and reflects the shared commitment of both sides to advancing a meaningful South-South cooperation framework in humanitarian mineaction.
During the visit, both sides engaged in substantive and forward-looking exchanges on areas of practical cooperation, including operational demining support, capacity development for Azerbaijan's National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), the sharing of regional best practices in victim assistance, gender-inclusive demining operations, and the alignment of national mine action policies with international standards.
The discussions also highlighted opportunities for continued technical exchange, innovation, and institutional cooperation between ARMAC and ANAMA following the successful ANAMA–ARMAC exchange mission to ASEAN countries in 2024, building on the strong foundation established through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ANAMA and ARMAC, which will serve as an important framework for future collaboration, partnership, and knowledge exchange.
Guided by the conviction that recovery does not begin with construction but with safety, both parties reaffirmed a shared goal that resonates deeply across the ASEAN community and beyond: that every person affected by explosive contamination deserves the right to live in safety, with dignity, and in peace — a vision that lies at the heart of ASEAN's Strategic Agenda towards 2045.
“This visit reflects the growing recognition that humanitarian mine action is not a regional issue — it is a shared human responsibility. ARMAC stands ready to walk alongside Azerbaijan and ANAMA, drawing on decades of hard-won experience across Southeast Asia to support the safe return of affected communities to their homes,” said Ms. Rothna Buth, Executive Director of ARMAC.
Beyond its regional remit as a regional center of excellence and platform for cooperation in humanitarian mine action, ARMAC is committed to building strategic partnerships with actors across the globe, strengthening knowledge exchange, capacity development, information management, and survivor-centered support systems wherever they are needed. The visit also reaffirmed ARMAC’s commitment to fostering stronger interregional partnerships and practical cooperation in support of global humanitarian mine action efforts.
The courtesy visit by the Azerbaijani delegation stands as a concrete expression of ARMAC's growing internationalengagement reach and its role as a bridge between regional expertise and global humanitarian needs, further strengthening South-South cooperation in humanitarian mine action across ASEAN and beyond.
About ARMAC
The ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) is a regional center of excellence established by ASEAN Leaders in 2012 under the ASEAN framework. ARMAC supports Member States in addressing the humanitarian and developmental impacts of explosive ordnance (EO). It fosters regional cooperation, strengthens technical capacities, and provides expertise to help affected communities recover from the effects of war and move forward in peace and security.
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