Monday, January 18 2021 17:15

ArmInfo.RA Minister of Environment Romanos Petrosyan addressed another letter to the Executive Secretaries of environmental conventions, international  organizations and partners, drawing their attention to the severe  consequences of the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan with the  support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign terrorists and  mercenaries. This is stated in the official statement of the  Ministry.

According to the press service of Ministry, in particular, the  Minister stressed, that during the war, the Azerbaijani armed forces  used internationally banned cluster munitions, weapons containing  white phosphorus or termite substances against the people of Artsakh.  Similar actions caused irreparable damage to the environment, ranging  from large-scale wildfires to poisoning of air, soil, water, flora  and fauna. Such hazards threaten the environment, having a  significant impact on the framework of international environmental  treaties, the deadlines for fulfilling obligations under the  conventions.

The Minister noted, that the Azerbaijani aggression was limited not  only to Artsakh, but also spread to the territory of Armenia.  "Presently Armenia is facing a great risk of environmental dangers,  in particular:  Loss of forest areas, forest degradation and increase  of  risks of wildfires The fires deliberately caused damage to  "Artsvaberd" and "Syunik" forest enterprises Loss or disruption of  water, sanitation, waste infrastructure, tailings, etc.  Physical  damage directed  to landscapes, geodiversity, biodiversity A large  amount of debris and ruins that can cause air and soil pollution and  etc.  In this period of challenges for Armenia, it is impossible to  deal with such severe consequences of the war alone,"  he said.

The RA Ministry of Environment and  Minister Romanos Petrosyan urge   the international community to be actively involved and to assist in  the detailed assessment of the environmental damage in Armenia, in an  effort to mitigate the critical situation in the border area.  

It is reported that the letter was sent to:  UN Armenia Resident  Coordinator Mr. Shombi Sharp Secretary General to the Ramsar  Convention Ms. Martha Urrego Executive Secretary of the Convention on  Biological Diversity Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema Executive Secretary   of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory  Waterbirds (AEWA) Ms.  Jacques Trouvilliez Executive Secretary of the  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals  (CMS) Ms.  Amy Fraenkel Secretary General of the Bern Convention Ms.  Ursula Sticker Executive Director of the United Nations Environment  Programme (UNEP) Ms. Inger Andersen Director General  of the   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Mr. Bruno    Oberle European Commission Executive Vice-President  for the   European Green Deal  Mr. Frans Timmermans EU Commissioner for   Environment,  Oceans and Fisheries at European Commission Virginijus  Sinkevicius