Doc. 9148
27 June 2001

Ecological situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan (mountainous Karabakh, Shusha, Lachin, Gubatli, Zengilan, Kelebecer, Agdam, Fizuli, Cabrail)

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Seyidov and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

      Considering the global importance of ecological problems in the present world, the Council of Europe is greatly alarmed by the ecological situation, which has emerged in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan (mountainous Karabakh, Shusha, Lachin, Gubatli, Zengilan, Kelebecer, Agdam, Fizuli, Cabrail).

      There are two national reserves (Karabakh and Basitchay) and four temporary reserves (Lachin, Gubatli, pre-Araz and Damalti) in the above-mentioned Azeri territories. These national reserves with their unique natural landscapes, fauna and flora are absolutely not controlled by Azerbaijan and according to the available information are systematically plundered.

      The total area of woods in the above-mentioned territories was 264.000 hectares. At present all the precious species of trees in the said area have been felled and animals have completely disappeared. As a result, the vital biological relations among the natural complexes have been violated and an ecological crisis has emerged.

      The chemical analyses of the water in the river Araz, the biggest branch of the river Kur, the most vital water artery of Azerbaijan, show that the level of pollution of water exceeds the admissible norm for many times. Taking into account that the main branches of the river Araz (Okhchuchay, Razdan, Arpachay) run through the territory of Armenia, and bearing in mind the fact that the Republic of Armenia has not ratified the “Convention on the Protection and Usage of Transborder Water Arteries and International Lakes” (Helsinki 2000), the Assembly expresses its great concern about the situation which has emerged.

      Taking into consideration the high seismicity of the whole Caucasian region (earthquakes in Spitak in 1988, in Baku in 2000), the presence of the atomic power station in the Republic of Armenia is a potential source of danger for life not only in the Caucasian region, but also in the whole of eastern Europe and the Middle East.

      Taking as a guide the provision ratified by the Republic of Azerbaijan in the February of 2001 to the Basel Convention on Controlling the Transborder Transportation of Dangerous Wastes, as well as taking into consideration the fact that the above-mentioned Azeri territories are completely uncontrolled, the Assembly expresses its alarm and fear on the possible dumping of nuclear wastes of the Armenian atomic power station in the Azeri territories.

Taking into account the above, the Assembly calls on the Committee of Ministers to take the necessary steps to prevent the expected ecological catastrophe in this unique part of the European continent, which is under occupation.

Signed : ¹

Seyidov, Azerbaijan, EDG

Aliyev B., Azerbaijan, SOC

Aliyev G., Azerbaijan, EDG

Angelovičová, Slovakia, SOC

Gligoroski, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, EPP/CD

Hajiyeva, Azerbaijan, EPP/CD

Huseynov A., Azerbaijan, EDG

Huseynov R., Azerbaijan, EPP/CD

İrtemçelik, Turkey, EDG

Landsbergis, Lithuania, EDG

Shakhtakhtinskaya, Azerbaijan, EDG

Taylor, United Kingdom, EPP/CD

Telek, Turkey, EDG

Tudor, Romania, EDG

Vakilov, Azerbaijan, EDG

Zarubinsky, Ukraine, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group