GANIRA PASHAYEVA SLAMS COUNCIL OF EUROPE FOR ARMENIANS’ ARSONS IN AZERI LANDS

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 23 2008
Azerbaijan

Though Azerbaijani delegation raised issue in Council of Europe
(CE), and its various structures on Armenians’ arsons in the occupied
Azerbaijani territories for several times, the organization did not
give proper reaction, member of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Ganira
Pashayeva said while addressing Parliamentary Assembly of Council of
Europe (PACE) winter session, APA Europe Bureau reports.

Azerbaijani MP said that though footages of Armenians’ arsons were
presented, organization did not give strict reaction to it.

"Thousand hectares area caught fire and was destructed, flora and fauna
were damaged. These arsons not only damage ecology of Azerbaijan,
but Europe at the same time.Therefore, many forests are cut in the
Azerbaijani 20 % occupied lands and sold as raw material to foreign
countries," she said. Ms. Pashayeva noted that they expect serious
efforts from Assembly to prevent ecological disasters and stressed
that PACE member countries should give reaction to such events and
take any measures. Pashayeva stated that Azerbaijan has got drinking
water problem and a big part of water reserve is in Azerbaijani
occupied lands.

"Other serious problem is that, rivers flowing through Armenia to
Azerbaijan are polluted with chemical, biological and other dangerous
wastes by Armenia," she said. Azerbaijan raised this issue in various
international organizations, as well as, presented written appeal to
the Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe, but proper reactions
were not given. Pashayeva mentioned that Armenia did not ratify
convention on protection of trans-border water.