Addressing Illegal Mining Concerns in the South Caucasus
A recent briefing in Baku shed light on the issue of illegal mining operations in Armenia, impacting the environment of Azerbaijan and the broader South Caucasus region. Amin Mammadov, co-founder of EPF coalition, outlined the coalition’s goals and highlighted recent developments.
Armenia’s plans to build a metallurgical plant near Nakhchivan were met with opposition from Azerbaijan, leading to project suspension. Satellite images from Azercosmos in 2023 revealed over 20 mining sites near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. In 2024, protests in Armenia against mining at the Amulsar site prompted accusations of espionage for Azerbaijan.
EPF co-founder Sabir Bagirov stressed the environmental risks posed by mining in Western Zangezur. He called for Armenia’s ratification of the UN Convention on Transboundary Watercourses and Lakes. Cooperation between civil society organizations in Azerbaijan and Armenia is crucial for monitoring environmental impact in the region.
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