(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Rena Murshud read more 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.
"I think another solution for the problem is to invite the
international community to the area to facilitate a discussion
between the two parties," N.Salim added.
Also talking about the harm to the environment, the pundit
expressed that any type of construction and anything that can harm
the environment on both sides must be prevented. Even if they want
to construct a petrol station, they still don't have the right to
do it by their own decision. This has to be decided by two sides,
and it should be based on a certain study of the impact on the
environment of the region. The expert added that this kind of
procedure applies to the area near the border with another
country.
As for the Western reaction, Nidal Salim said that everyone
knows about the double standards in the Western policy, which is
carried out in relation to countries that are not in its interests.
And today such a policy is carried out in your area, in Garabagh,
in the context of the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia.
"We clearly observe that when Armenia resorts to provocations,
they ignore what they do, but in the case of Azerbaijan they
immediately react to everything that is done by Azerbaijan in
response to Armenia's provocations," the expert emphasised.
And in response to the question of why the world is not taking
decisive action against Armenia. Nidal Salim answered that the UN
is the only body to take a resolutive decision on the matter.
"The UN resolution has to be issued which shall be implemented
accordingly by both sides. Besides, the United Nations does not
have any certain mechanism for the issue yet. What the
international community can do is highlight this problem globally,
at the UN level. Most of the cases related to Armenia are eco-crime
and eco-crisis which should be discussed at side-events of UN
conferences where all international communities need to be invited
in order to see realities and at least facilitate the process
through negotiations," the expert underlined.