BAKU: Azerbaijan has raised significant environmental concerns related to illegal mining operations in Armenia, particularly highlighting the potential toxic effects on the South Caucasus region, as discussed during a recent briefing in Baku.

According to Trend News Agency, Amin Mammadov, co-founder of the Environmental Protection First (EPF) coalition, detailed the environmental challenges posed by Armenia’s mining activities during the event. He pointed out that Armenia was planning to build a large metallurgical plant in Arazdayan, close to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, which would have breached the 1991 Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context. This project was stopped following objections from Azerbaijan.

In 2023, Azercosmos, Azerbaijan’s space agency, utilized satellite imagery to expose the operations of over 20 mining enterprises near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Furthermore, Mammadov mentioned the early 2024 protests by several Armenian NG
Os against their government’s decision to develop new mining sites at the Amulsar location, which is historically Azerbaijani territory. These NGOs, showing solidarity with EPF, were subsequently accused of espionage by their government.

Sabir Bagirov, another EPF co-founder, stressed that out of Armenia’s 26 mining companies, 12 operate in Western Zangezur, posing serious environmental threats. He emphasized the necessity for Armenia to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Following the expected peace agreement, the Azerbaijani government will push for Armenia’s adherence to the convention and the establishment of a joint body to oversee its implementation.

Bagirov also highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration between civil society organizations in Azerbaijan and Armenia to monitor the environmental conditions in the region effectively.