Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have called on Armenia to create conditions for conducting environmental monitoring on the Araz River, Amin Mammadov, co-founder of the Environmental Protection First coalition and chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, said during a briefing in Baku, according to Report.
He emphasized that Baku has been raising the issue of pollution in the Araz River for many years, but it was largely ignored until recently. "Now, thanks to publications on the Iranian platform Payam Media, the issue has gained attention. It is highlighted that the polluted water is leading to an increase in gastrointestinal and oncological diseases," Mammadov noted.
He also added that eco-activists in Armenia are facing pressure from authorities for criticizing the situation. "As representatives of Azerbaijani civil society, we believe that an independent monitoring process with the involvement of international experts and Azerbaijani specialists is necessary, and we urge Armenia to create conditions for the monitoring," Mammadov said.
