Azerbaijani MFA: Armenia agrees to negotiate aspects of metallurgical plant construction on border

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has announced that Armenia agreed to negotiate the construction of a metallurgical plant near Yeraskh settlement (Arazdeyen, on the border with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic) with Azerbaijan and was forced to recognise the validity of Azerbaijan’s claims.

Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev sent a letter to his Armenian counterpart in September 2023 demanding to stop construction of the plant, which could have transboundary consequences, fulfill obligations under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and provide the necessary information to begin consultations to determine the harmful transboundary consequences of the project. A corresponding notification in this regard was also sent by Azerbaijan to the executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports.

“In its response letter, the Armenian side noted that it had not violated its obligations under the Convention, the plant’s activity would not have a big negative impact on the Azerbaijani environment, and Yerevan refused Baku’s request to hold consultations, submit documents and stop construction,” the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said.

The ministry noted that the executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe sent a response letter to the Azerbaijani side on October 13, 2023. Armenia has obligations to conduct discussions and submit environmental and project documents. This information was confirmed in the letter.

“As a result of Azerbaijan’s appeal to the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and ongoing legal and diplomatic pressure on Yerevan on October 31, 2023, the Armenian minister of economy made a statement to the press about the construction of the plant in other place (far from the border). At the same time, the Armenian minister of environment sent an appeal to the executive secretary and declared his readiness for negotiations with Azerbaijan,” the statement says.