Environmental Protection First (EPF) reiterates its call to prevent river pollution from Armenia

Members of the Environmental Protection First (EPF) coalition of environmental NGOs have called to draw attention once again to their interactive map demonstrating the environmental damage caused to transboundary rivers with Azerbaijan as a result of mining activities in Armenia, Report informs.

Leaders of several NGOs from African countries, environmental activists, and journalists have again appealed to international organizations and secretariats of environmental protection conventions to help solve this problem, which causes concern among civil society representatives not only in Azerbaijan but also in Armenia itself.

Appeals were made to the secretariat of the UN Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for environmental protection in the South Caucasus region. According to Kabine Doumbia from the NGO ASRAD (Mali), the map clearly shows that waste with high concentrations of heavy metals resulting from the activities of mining enterprises in Armenia is discharged into transboundary rivers.

"We call on international institutions to take into account these serious environmental violations, which do not comply with the principles of environmental protection when assessing the transparency of the mining industry in Armenia. In addition, international experts, as well as local and foreign NGOs, should be granted access to mining sites to conduct investigations and on-site verification of mining practices, environmental and operational methods. We ask the secretariats of the Convention on Environmental Protection and other international organizations to facilitate this and be open to further discussion on this issue. We, civil society organizations from different countries, express our support for this coalition and emphasize the importance of cooperation with Environmental Protection FERS."

Another journalist and eco-activist Dare Akogun from Nigeria has called on Armenia to coordinate its mining activities with Azerbaijan.

"This call from the Coalition of 29 non-governmental organizations from 13 countries is related to the fact that heavy metal waste from mining operations in Armenia enters and pollutes transboundary rivers that feed the Kura and Araz rivers located in the Caucasus region. And this pollution of the main sources of fresh water in the region poses a significant threat to biodiversity, soil quality, water, and human lives in Azerbaijan and neighboring countries," said the founder of the environmental publication DA News Media.

"This is a problem we have already encountered before, we have seen pollution of the Araz River affecting both livestock and people," said First coalition member Peter Owiti, head of the Wote Youth Development Projects CBO NGO in Kenya.

According to Owiti, the pollution is even more dangerous because it affects not only river waters but also groundwater.

"According to the United Nations data on waste and environmental pollution, this issue has been repeatedly raised by community representatives in Armenia itself," he noted, adding that mineral resource extraction should be conducted with a good understanding of the impact it has on people.

"But, obviously, mining continues in violation of a number of global conventions that protect the rights of communities. The prepared map provides evidence of the level and scale of pollution. Therefore, we again ask the government of Armenia to stop mining, consult with representatives of both countries, both with civil society organizations of Armenia itself and Azerbaijan to search for and find long-term solutions to prevent these pollutions," Owiti said.

He added that human life should be in the first place, because, as we say, humans come first when it comes to pollution issues.

Joseph Silali from "350 Kenya" and the head of ABO'S Climate news from Kenya condemned the pollution of transboundary rivers and environmental destruction by Armenia's mining industry and again called on the leadership of the Espoo Convention and EITI to pay attention to this situation.

"We are concerned that waste containing high concentrations of heavy metals resulting from extractive industrial operations in Armenia is being discharged into transboundary rivers. This is unacceptable and must be stopped," he said.

According to Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje (Nigeria), mining activities in river basins in Armenia have a direct negative impact on neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan.

"Severe chemical pollution of the Araz River, which is the largest source of fresh water in the region, poses a significant threat to the population, biodiversity, soil, ecosystem, climate, life, and aquatic environment in the region. Therefore, we declare that these actions clearly ignore internationally recognized standards and principles, especially those established under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention).

He also called on all stakeholders to provide international experts, as well as Azerbaijani and foreign NGOs and other organizations affected by these developments, with access to mining sites in Armenia for on-site monitoring and verification of environmental and operational practices.

"Furthermore, and most importantly, we expect and request that the Republic of Armenia necessarily come to an agreement with Azerbaijan and neighboring countries regarding the continuation of these developments," Uzodinma Adirieje stated.