Accra:The Environmental Protection First NGO Coalition has issued a strong address to the international community as Armenia prepares to host the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the coalition highlighted what it perceives as contradictions between the summit's theme of biodiversity conservation and Armenia's environmental record. The statement criticized the choice of Armenia as a host country, citing issues such as ecological degradation and transboundary pollution, which it claims are prevalent in the region.

The coalition specifically pointed to several environmental concerns, including the pollution of the Okhchuchay River by industrial waste from Armenian facilities, the ecological damage in Azerbaijani territories during Armenian occupation, and hazardous industrial projects near the Azerbaijan border. Additionally, they criticized Armenia's lack of participation in international water protection agreements, calling for genuine global cooperation to address these issues.