Yerevan: Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition has called on Armenia to adhere to its commitments regarding the environmental management of transboundary rivers, particularly in light of the ongoing issues affecting the South Caucasus region. The appeal comes as the world observes World Environment Day, highlighting the pressing environmental challenges faced in the area due to Armenia's mining activities.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Amin Mammadov, co-founder of the EPF Coalition, emphasized the negative impact that Armenia's mining industry has had on the environment in Azerbaijan and across the South Caucasus. Mammadov pointed out that the coalition has compiled factual documentation and cartographic evidence to illustrate these environmental damages. He stressed the importance of Armenia fulfilling its obligations under the Espoo Convention, to which it is a signatory, as part of the broader peace agenda in the region.

Mammadov also urged international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union to focus on regional environmental initiatives led by civil society and to address the ecological state of transboundary rivers shared between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, he highlighted the significance of the Araz River, a transboundary river involving Iran, suggesting that Iran's accession to the Espoo Convention would be beneficial. This is due to the pollution in the Araz River, which significantly impacts Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, and the broader region as a downstream country.