Global PoliticsWhat to Whatch

Tim Lardner and Steinar Essen on Mine Action and Urban Recovery

Emil M. Hasanov
ByEmil M. Hasanov
Chairman (Founder)
Emil M. Hasanov is a distinguished expert in international security and post‑conflict recovery, with more than two decades of leadership across the United Nations, U.S. Department...
Follow:
- Chairman (Founder)
3 Min Read

Reflections from the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku

Source: ANAMA. Interview conducted by Emil M. Hasanov in his capacity as a Public Council member under ANAMA. Guests: Tim Lardner and Steinar Essen. View the original interview on ANAMA’s YouTube channel.

Restoring communities and responding to emerging threats

During the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku, co-organized by ANAMA and the United Nations in Azerbaijan on –, I spoke with Tim Lardner, UNOPS Director for Europe and Central Asia, and Steinar Essen, UNDP’s Global Mine Action Advisor. Lardner emphasized that clearance saves lives and creates conditions for development, helping communities rebuild homes, schools and hospitals, restore agriculture and return safely. He also stressed the importance of sharing experience across countries and organizations.

Contents

Essen highlighted Azerbaijan’s expanding mine action capacity and the potential for a centre of excellence to share its expertise internationally. Looking ahead, he warned about evolving hazards, including improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance from weaponized drones. He also voiced concern about declining respect for international humanitarian law. The discussion underscored the need to adapt mine action to new threats while keeping civilian protection and lasting community recovery at its core.


Strategic Alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz – Energy Security, Geopolitical Risk, and Export Diversification Strategies for Iraq and the Gulf (2026–2035)
NATO After Ankara (2026): From Commitment to Execution – Strategic Transformation, Türkiye’s Centrality, and the Rise of Networked Security in Eurasia
Bulgaria 2026 and Romania 2025 Elections and EU Eastern Line: Comprehensive and Comparative Analysis
Germany’s New Military Policy Is Reshaping NATO and What Role Germany May Play in the Future
The Iran Crisis, the Strait of Hormuz, and Implications for Global Energy Security
Share This Article
ByEmil M. Hasanov
Chairman (Founder)
Follow:
Emil M. Hasanov is a distinguished expert in international security and post‑conflict recovery, with more than two decades of leadership across the United Nations, U.S. Department of State programs, OSCE, EU, and other global institutions. He has served as a strategic adviser to UN peacekeeping in Darfur, Sudan, and directed stabilization initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of State. His fieldwork spans Yemen, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Georgia, and operations along the Afghanistan and Syrian borders, where he led missions on disarmament, conventional weapons management, and post‑war recovery. Mr. Hasanov’s academic foundation combines law studies at the University of Geneva and Baku State University (LL.M) with advanced training at leading institutions including Cranfield Defense Academy (UK), Carleton University (Canada), George Washington University (USA), Thunderbird School of Global Management, and SOAS, University of London. His career reflects a unique blend of legal expertise, operational leadership, and external affairs. He has advised on communications and external relations with BP AGT, engaging with diplomatic corps, senior officials, and heads of state. He is also co‑founder of the Club de Genève, a platform fostering dialogue among policymakers and scholars. Beyond policy and operations, Mr. Hasanov has established a strong profile in communications and media, serving as author and anchor of GEOPOLITICS talk shows, publishing widely on international relations, and producing documentaries on conflict and recovery. As Founder and Chairman of the International Center for Transatlantic Studies (ICTS), Mr. Hasanov brings this global expertise to advancing the Center’s mission: strengthening transatlantic cooperation, fostering innovative policy dialogue, and promoting collective security.

You Might Also Like