COOPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA IN THE FIELD OF ECOLOGY IMPOSSIBLE
[October 26, 2004, 21:47:01]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
26 Oct. 2004
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the field of ecology is
impossible since the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict is
not settled. Minister of ecology and natural resources of Azerbaijan
Huseyngulu Bagirov at conference of the ministers of environment of
the countries of the East Europe, Caucasus and the Central Asia,
which was taken place in Tbilisi, stated it. Officials have taken
part in work of conference from the European Union, the USA, and also
representatives of some international organizations.
As was informed to correspondent of AzerTAj in the press-service of
the ministry of ecology and natural resources, during discussions
around the question on regional cooperation and presentation of the
report “Environment and the initiative of safety on the Southern
Caucasus”, prepared by OSCE, UNDP and the Program of the United
Nations on environment, the head of the Azerbaijan delegation,
minister Huseyngulu Bagirov in reply to the offer of the international
organizations concerning cooperation with Armenia, has called them to
act from real positions and has stated that in conditions of absence
of safety for life of people in zone of the conflict there can not
be a speech about the solution of problems of ecological safety in
any way. It has been marked, that as a result of occupational policy
of Armenia, serious damage was caused to the unique nature of region,
and natural riches of Azerbaijan are plundered. Non-alignment of some
countries of region to the conventions regulating ecological questions
of trans-national character, prevents solution of available problems,
in particular, connected with the Kur River.
At the conference, also were discussed realization of ecological
strategy for the countries of the East Europe, Caucasus and Central
Asia adopted at the Kiev conference of ministers of environment of the
European countries last year. The head of the Azerbaijan delegation
who has acted at the Conference, devoted to questions of partnership
of private and public sectors at realization of strategy, has told
about the successes achieved in Azerbaijan in sphere of preservation
of environment, and on the basis of concrete examples has informed
on synthesis of private and public sectors in the decision of
environmental problems.
During discussion of the questions of partnership between the
countries-participants of strategy and international donors,
the Azerbaijani minister, speaking about donors in solution of
environmental problems, with the purpose to reduce dependence on the
donor assistance, has expressed a wish about more effective utilization
of national resource.
Minister Huseyngulu Bagirov has carried out in Tbilisi also a number of
meetings – with the prime minister of Georgia Zurab Zhvania, minister
of protection of environment and natural resources of this country
Tamara Lebanidze and minister of Moldova – Konstantin Mikhailesku,
and also with heads of the international organizations.