Azerbaijani environmentalists raise alarm: Armenian plans threaten region LIST of signatories

According to reports in the Armenian press, Armenia is planning to build a large metallurgical plant in Arazdayan, Azerbaijan's border region with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The construction will cost $70 million and the plant building will be 30 meters tall and 16,500 square meters in size.

This statement came from environmental NGOs operating in Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

"Toxic chemical waste from this metallurgical plant can cause a serious blow to the region’s ecosystem. The risk of dumping its waste into the Araz River is an alarming signal both for the wildlife of the river and for extensive farms using the Araz River water for irrigation. Armenia's failure to comply with any international standards in the mining industry poses a serious environmental threat to both Azerbaijan and the region as a whole.

The construction of such an enterprise on the border without Azerbaijan’s consent is a gross violation of the Espoo Convention of 1991 "On Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context". Azerbaijan and Armenia are parties to this Convention, and based on its provisions, work should be carried out to assess the environmental impact of the plant's activities, the construction evaluation document should be reviewed by the relevant structures of the neighbouring state - Azerbaijan, and the opinions of Azerbaijanis living near the region should also be taken into account.

Armenia's failure to comply with these requirements once again proves that Armenia is pursuing a destructive policy in the region, grossly violating the provisions of international documents and international obligations to which it is a party.

Armenia's policy of ecological terror and ecocide against Azerbaijan is not new. Striking examples of this are the Metsamor NPP, which has remained a threat to the region's environment for many years, the large-scale environmental tragedies that occurred in Karabakh during the occupation, the discharge of untreated industrial waters with a high content of chemical elements into the Okhchuchay River. Armenia has significantly polluted Okhchuchay. This degrades the ecological system of the section of the river passing through the Azerbaijani territory. The German company Chronimet together with Armenia participates in this environmental crime. Unfortunately, to this day, the German government has not taken any practical steps in this direction.

With such environmental crimes, Armenia ignores the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, the third goal on ensuring the health of every person, the sixth - on clean water and sanitation, the 13th - on combating the effects of climate change and the 15th - on protecting soil ecosystems.

As you know, in 2022 the UN recognized a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right. Armenia grossly violates the human rights of Azerbaijan, including the population of the region, causing serious damage to the environment.

In addition, in accordance with the guiding principles of various international instruments, including in the field of business and human rights, economic activity should be carried out without prejudice to human rights. Even in this case, Armenia acts irresponsibly, ignoring the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and pursuing only its own economic interests.

As environmental non-governmental organizations operating in Azerbaijan, we call on the relevant international organizations, led by the UN Environment Program, World Health Organization, UN Special Rapporteur on the Environment, UN Special Rapporteur on Harmful Substances and Human Rights, to respond to this fact and put an end to Armenia's next environmental terror.

We appeal to the US government with a request to call for responsible behaviour of a company preparing to build a large metallurgical plant in Arazdayan and registered on American territory, not to turn a blind eye to lawlessness on its part. US officials, including the US embassies in Azerbaijan and Armenia, should not remain silent, but respond to this issue.

From here we also appeal to eco-activists in Armenia. First of all, this will have a negative impact on the ecological state of Armenia itself. This is the time for action to stop this process, which endangers the region," reads the statement, which was signed by the following NGOs and individuals:

Chairman of the NGO Environmental Education Green World - Elman Jafarli

Chairman of the NGO assistance in the study of environmental problems Ana Kur - Rustam Malikov,

Chairman of the NGO Ecolex Environmental Law Centre - Sevil Isayeva

Chairman of the NGO Specialists in the field of water use - Amin Mammadov

Chairman of the NGO Biosphere - Gorkhmaz Ibrahimli

Chairman of the NGO Ecomir - Sevil Yuzbashova

Chairman of the ecological NGO Towards Healthy Life - Sadig Hasanov

Chairman of the NGO Environmental Education and Monitoring - Gamza Yusubova

Chairman of the NGO Socio-economic and Environmental Development - Rahila Mehdiyeva

Chairman of the NGO for Socio-Economic Development Assistance Sky and Eco - Irada Hasanova

Chairman of the environmental education NGO Ecologist-2010 - Salim Balaev

Chairman of the NGO Environmental Assistance in Environmental Protection - Rubaba Huseynli

Chairman of the NGO Research and Promotion of Natural Resources and the Environment Travelers - representative Zhalia Garibova

Chairman of the NGO Assistance to Environmental Education - Tarverdi Huseynov

Chairman of the NGO Youth Development Assistance - Healthy Environment - Ali Mirzayev

Chairman of the NGO promoting a healthy lifestyle  - Phoenix - Shahin Huseynov

Chairman of the NGO for Environmental Education of Youth  - Friends of Nature - Elman Asgarov

Chairman of the NGO of Producers and Exporters of Environmentally Friendly Products - Emin Aliyev

Chairman of the ecotourism NGO - Shafag - Vamig Babayev

Chairman of the Ecology and Nature Protection NGO - Dalga - Natig Hatamov

Chairman of the NGO for Environmental Research and Education "Eco-TES" Chingiz Nazarov

Chairman of the NGO Environmental Education "Aran" - Nasreddin Keremov

Chairman of the NGO for the Support of Social Development and Environmental Protection "Pragma" - Taleh Shakhsuvarov

Chairman of the NGO "Family and Environment" Ilham Gurbanov25 Chairman of the environmental NGO "Ruzger" - Islam Mustafayev.