Azerbaijan demands that Armenia stop construction of metallurgical plant in border region

The government of Azerbaijan demanded that Armenia stop the construction of a large metallurgical plant in Arazdayan, bordering the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Cabinet of Ministers said, Report informs.

In a letter addressed to Armenia's Minister of Environment on behalf of the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Mukhtar Babayev, it was stated that the appropriate procedure has been initiated over the activities that may have transboundary effects, which are carried out near Yeraskh settlement (Arazdayan), located a few hundred meters from the conventional border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, following the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention).

It is particularly emphasized that according to Annex 1 of the Espoo Convention, metallurgical plants are obviously recognized as an activity that may cause a significant negative transboundary impact.

According to Article 3.1 of the Espoo Convention, Armenia is obliged to notify Azerbaijan about the environmental impact of the mentioned activity. However, as an affected Party, Azerbaijan has not received any notification from Armenia regarding this project.

Taking into account the above, following Article 3.7 of the Espoo Convention, Azerbaijan, as the affected Party, demands that Armenia share information in order to discuss the negative transboundary impact of the project at the initial stage.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani government demanded an immediate suspension of the construction of the plant by Armenia until the issues related to the cross-border impact of the project are fully clarified and adequately addressed.

A relevant notification was also addressed to the executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe regarding the issue.