HRC 52nd Session: Item 3: interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment

09 March, 2023

Delivered by Mr. Henrik Yeritsyan, Second Secretary

President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his thought-provoking report identifying the link inter alia between the gender equality, discrimination, armed conflicts and the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Recognizing the indivisibility and interdependence of the human rights, Armenia was among the original cosponsors of the resolution recognizing the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right adopted during the 48^th session of the HRC.

We share the view of the SR that the elimination of systemic discrimination against women and girls is essential for their consistent enjoyment of the human rights including the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Armenia also concurs with the SR that armed conflicts worsen living conditions for women and girls. This has been the case with the people of Nagorno Karabakh and the population of Armenia residing in border areas. They have been subjected to continues military attacks from Azerbaijan throughout decades. These attacks caused immense environmental damage, such as intentional arson of forests, including by incendiary weapons. The water reservoirs and other civilian infrastructures were also deliberately targeted by Azerbaijan.

Environment does not recognize borders. Its protection requires trans boundary approach. Throughout the years Azerbaijan has vehemently refused to cooperate with Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh on environmental issues, including on the UN and OSCE led regional projects. This attitude should be reversed.

I thank you.

First Right of Reply

President,

Armenia would like to exercise its right of reply to the statement delivered by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan continues the blockage of the Lachin Corridor in a sheer defiance to the international community. The UN SG recently recalled that decisions of the ICJ are binding and should be implemented, including (and I quote) “on the measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.”

Azerbaijan claims that the group that closed the Lachin Corridor are environmental activists. However, any mass protests of activists in this context are unthinkable, unless they are inspired and organized by the authorities of Azerbaijan. In particular, according to the US Department of State 2021 Country Report on Human Rights Practices of Azerbaijan (and I quote) “the government consistently and severely restricted freedom of peaceful assembly, creating conditions that amounted to a de facto ban on assembly.”

In fact, the alleged “eco-activists” conducting the blockade are a mixture of government-funded and supported private citizens, government officials and military personnel, all united to advance the Government’s agenda: to make life unbearable for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Just two days after the blockade started, the authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to allow international and Azerbaijani observers to monitor the two mines allegedly at the centre of the protests but Azerbaijan refused. A couple of weeks later, the authorities ceased mining operations in the two mines altogether, but the blockade continues up till now. Moreover, shortly after the blockade began, these so called “protestors” started adding purely political demands such as establishing border and customs control posts on the Lachin Corridor which is a flagrant violation of the trilateral ceasefire statement of November 9, 2020.

Azerbaijanis have far worse environmental problems much closer to home to worry about. Oil and gas exploitation in the country has had devastating environmental consequences, including in the Caspian Sea. But somehow, the Lachin Corridor is the only place these alleged activists choose to protest.

In 2017 the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative suspended Azerbaijan’s membership due to concerns about the limits on civic freedoms in Azerbaijan. Reportedly that was connected to the lack of transparency on the environmental impact of the extraction of hydrocarbons in the Caspian basin. Azerbaijan does not want to give explanations to its own people. Still, it is much easier to blame others for one’s own failures.

I thank you.

Second Right of Reply

President,

Armenia would like to exercise its second right of reply to the statement delivered by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan misquoted a recent UNEP report alleging that it confirms the so-called environmental damage committed in Nagorno-Karabakh. In reality the UNEP’s report itself claims that (and I quote) “the findings presented herein … should not be taken as a review of the state of the environment in the conflict-affected territories.” According to the UNEP’s findings Azerbaijan itself infringed (and I quote) “significant impact on forest cover” after it started to build roads in this area after the war. According to Global Forest Watch (and I quote) “there does not appear to be significant tree cover loss in the Nagorno-Karabakh region”. It went on to stress that between roughly 2000 and 2020, this area had gained more tree cover than it lost.

All of the allegations of Azerbaijan have long been proved to be false. In particular, when it comes to the water pollution, the joint exercise that included Armenia, Azerbaijan, OSCE, NATO, ENVSEC – environment and security initiative came to the conclusion that despite allegations, the transboundary water flows are not polluted. In response to this conclusion Azerbaijan simply stopped any kind of cooperation in this field.

Azerbaijan also rejected any kind of cooperation with regard to the joint use of water resources of the Sarsang Reservoir, which is situated in Nagorno-Karabakh. By rejecting this proposal Azerbaijan proved again that its intention is to merely make a hollow propaganda, even at the expense of its own population living in trans-boundary zone.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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