PACE to discuss Sarsang water reservoir
By Sara Rajabova
The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will discuss a draft resolution on the Sarsang water reservoir, which is under Armenian occupation.
President of the Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA), member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Elkhan Suleymanov said the draft resolution will be discussed by the Presidential Committee of organization on 6 April.
Sarsang, the highest water reservoir of Azerbaijan situated 726 meters above sea level, was built on the Tartar River during the Soviet times in 1976. Since 1992, the Sarsang reservoir has been under the control of the Armenian armed forces, and as a result, the frontline regions have been deprived of its water.
Suleymanov said since 1992 when Armenian forces took control of Sarsang reservoir, the frontline regions with a population of over 400,000 has been deprived of its water.
He said the Presidential Committee recommended the Bureau to send the draft resolution to the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for the appointment of a rapporteur.
The Presidential Committee of the PACE earlier approved a draft resolution on the Sarsang water reservoir.
Suleymanov noted that on his initiative the draft resolution was signed by 45 PACE parliamentarians from 18 countries.
Stressing the importance of the document, he said the Assembly strongly criticized the illegal blockade by Armenia of the water supply and irrigation system in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which is in violation of the fundamental principles of international law.
Suleymanov further said the draft resolution calls for immediate action from the international community to prevent any scenarios of military provocation and preparation for any accident or natural disaster which may cause massive human casualties.
He also added three months ago the association launched a large-scale project on the Sarsang reservoir and the adoption of the resolution by the PACE is an integral part of the project.
Suleymanov noted that the Association will hold an international conference on the Sarsang reservoir in Tartar on September 7 where in addition to local experts three foreign experts will also deliver reports.
As a result of the Armenian occupation following a brutal war in the early 1990s, seven regions of Azerbaijan can no longer use water from the reservoir which is currently in an emergency situation, because it has not been maintained due to the occupation.
Engineers and hydrologists have predicted that if the dam breaks down, it will flood more than 30 villages. The risk of a disaster resulting from an accident is currently very high and the lives of 400,000 Azerbaijani citizens who live in the six regions downstream are in immediate danger.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over two decades. Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that sparked a lengthy war in the early 1990s. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to date.
will be considered at the Presidential Committee of organization on 6 April.
Sarsang, the highest water reservoir of Azerbaijan situated 726 meters above sea level, was built on the Tartar River during the Soviet times in 1976. Since 1992, the Sarsang reservoir has been under the control of the Armenian armed forces, and as a result, the frontline regions have been deprived of its water.
Suleymanov said since 1992, control of the Sarsang reservoir by the Armenian armed forces the frontline regions with population of over 400,000 have been deprived of the opportunity to use its water.
He said the Presidential Committee recommended that the Bureau send the draft resolution to the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for the appointment of a rapporteur.
The Presidential Committee of the PACE earlier approved a draft resolution on the Sarsang water reservoir.
Suleymanov noted that on his initiative the draft resolution has been signed by 45 PACE parliamentarians from 18 countries.
Stressing the importance of the document, the he said the Assembly strongly criticized the illegal blockade by Armenia of the water supply and irrigation system in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which is in violation of the fundamental principles of international law.
Suleymanov further said the draft resolution calls for immediate action from the international community to prevent any scenarios of military provocation and to be prepared for any accident or natural disaster which may cause massive human casualties.
He also added three months ago the association launched a large-scale project on the Sarsang reservoir and the adoption of the resolution by the PACE is an integral part of the project.
Suleymanov noted that the Association will hold an international conference on the Sarsang reservoir in Tartar on September 7 where in addition to local experts three foreign experts will deliver reports.
As a result of the Armenian occupation following a brutal war in the early 1990s, seven regions of Azerbaijan can no longer use water from the reservoir which is currently in an emergency situation, because it has not been maintained due to the occupation.
Engineers and hydrologists have predicted that if the dam breaks down, it will flood more than 30 villages. The risk of a disaster resulting from an accident is currently very high and the lives of 400,000 Azerbaijani citizens who live in the six regions downstream are in immediate danger.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over two decades. Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that sparked a lengthy war in the early 1990s. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to date.