The Azerbaijani side categorically condemned this action and stressed that the toxic chemical waste from the metallurgical plant could cause a big blow to the region’s ecosystem
A community that historically had no connection with the Caucasus, but forcibly annexed the region, is called Armenia. The great trial of history has turned them into a source of danger for Azerbaijan. The concept of Armenian, which embodies the most cruel feelings such as hatred, aggression and enmity, is also a destructive entity for nature and the environment.
A few months ago, Armenia started building a large metallurgical plant in Arazdayan (a region bordering the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan). It is noted that the Armenian-American metallurgical plant built in Arazdayan with an investment of $70 million will produce 180,000 tons of products per year.
The Azerbaijani side categorically condemned this action and stressed that the toxic chemical waste from the metallurgical plant could cause a big blow to the region’s ecosystem. It was noted that the risk of dumping waste from the plant into the Araz River was a wake-up call for both the living organisms in the river and for the large farms used for irrigation in the region.
However, the Armenian side categorically ignored the protest of Azerbaijan and even the international NGOs that joined this protest. On the contrary, in response to this, it stated that the plant was not built in violation of the law. They also accused Azerbaijan of demonstrating the illegal use of force against them and shooting in the direction of the construction.
In your opinion, what else could be expected from Armenia?
For this reason, Azerbaijan continued to globally raise this issue, turning to other NGOs and public associations.
Nidal Salim, director and founder of the Global Institute for Aquatic Ecology and Health, which supports Azerbaijan in this matter, said that looking at the flow rate of the Araz River in the region, it is possible to admit the risk of Armenia posing a threat here. In a comment for AZERNEWS he told that in the transboundary water resources any pollution which could cause harm for the country from upstream to downstream is not allowed.
“In the case of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Armenia is upstream and Azerbaijan is the opposite one.
According to the International Water Law water pollution has to be prevented or reduced, and this can be done in a cooperation program. What is the adequate way to do this, there is no single solution for these things, but normally, this kind of thing has to be done first in agreement, secondly, in cooperation and commitment between countries,” the foreign expert said.
According to him, in the Armenian and Azerbaijani case, the situation is highly political and it is considered a sensitive area. However, as there are still some economic benefits for both states and the countries around, involvement of some intenrational community could be somewhat helpful for the solution of the problem.
