Armenia faces the risk of environmental dangers

Minister of Environment Romanos Petrosyan addressed another letter to the Executive Secretaries of environmental conventions, international organizations and partners, drawing their attention to the severe consequences of the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign terrorists and mercenaries. During the war, the Azerbaijani armed forces used internationally banned cluster munitions, weapons containing white phosphorus or termite substances against the people of Artsakh. Similar actions caused irreparable damage to the environment, ranging from large-scale wildfires to poisoning of air, soil, water, flora and fauna. Such hazards threaten the environment, having a significant impact on the framework of international environmental treaties, the deadlines for fulfilling obligations under the conventions.
The entire amount of environmental damage is still subject to detailed monitoring and assessment.
Note, that the Azerbaijani aggression was not limited to Artsakh, but extended to the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
 Thus, presently Armenia is facing a great risk of environmental dangers, in particular:
Loss of forest areas, forest degradation and increase of  risks of wildfires
 The fires deliberately caused damage to "Artsvaberd" and "Syunik" forest enterprises 
 Loss or disruption of water, sanitation, waste infrastructure, tailings, etc. 
Physical damage directed  to landscapes, geodiversity, biodiversity 
A large amount of debris and ruins that can cause air and soil pollution and etc. 
In this period of challenges for Armenia, it is impossible to deal with such severe consequences of the war alone.
 The RA Ministry of Environment and  Minister Romanos Petrosyan urge  the international community to be actively involved and to assist in the detailed assessment of the environmental damage in Armenia, in an effort to mitigate the critical situation in the border area. The letter was sent to:
 
UN Armenia Resident Coordinator Mr. Shombi Sharp

Secretary General to the Ramsar Convention Ms. Martha Urrego

Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema

 Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) Ms.  Jacques Trouvilliez  

Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Ms. Amy Fraenkel

Secretary General of the Bern Convention Ms. Ursula Sticker 
 
Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ms. Inger Andersen

 Director General  of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Mr. Bruno Oberle
 
European Commission Executive Vice-President  for the  European Green Deal  Mr. Frans Timmermans 
EU Commissioner for  Environment,  Oceans and Fisheries at European Commission Virginijus Sinkevičius