Armenian Forests Also Affected by Use of Phosphorus Munitions, Armenian Side Expects Specific Actions

The Ministry of Environment of Armenia is still expecting practical proposals and specific actions from the Guarantors of Environmental Conventions, international organizations, and partners to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the environmental damage caused during the last Artsakh war due to the use of prohibited munitions. This was stated in response to a written inquiry from NEWS.am.

It is noteworthy that on November 3, 2020, Environment Minister Romanos Petrosyan sent a relevant letter to the executive secretaries of environmental conventions, international organizations, and partners regarding incendiary munitions containing white phosphorus used against the environment of Artsakh and its population. NEWS.am inquired about the actions undertaken by international environmental organizations to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the use of prohibited munitions (including those containing phosphorus materials) during and after the war, and whether the reaction from international environmental organizations regarding the use of phosphorus munitions is considered adequate.

“So far, the responses received contain calls for solidarity and mutual coexistence, which is insufficient for advancing the peace process in Artsakh, as well as for the agreements reached within the framework of that process,” the ministry's response stated.

Addressing the extent of environmental damage caused by the war and the steps taken towards restoring environmental harm, the ministry highlighted: The internationally banned cluster munitions and weapons containing white phosphorus or thermite materials used by Azerbaijani armed forces during the recent war in Artsakh have inflicted indirect harm on the environment of Armenia and Artsakh, leading to large-scale forest fires and persistent pollution of air, soil, and water.

“The hostile actions of Azerbaijan following the war prompted the burning of forests under the jurisdiction of the ‘Hayantar’ SNCO. Specifically, in the ‘Syunik Forest Enterprise’ branch, 25 hectares of forested area have been recorded as burned. The actual damage caused by the fire can only be determined after the completion of demining work in the area. In total, 55.91 hectares have burned in the ‘Shikahogh’ state reserve of the ‘Zangezur Biosphere Complex’ SNCO. In the Tavush region, as a result of the use of prohibited munitions, 100 hectares of the ‘Artsvaberd’ forestry branch have burned, of which 70 were forested areas. As a result, 59 trees have burned up to the degree of cessation of growth, totaling 108.66 cubic meters. The total extent of environmental damage is still subject to monitoring and evaluation,” the ministry reported.

It should be noted that the presented data relates exclusively to the damage caused in the forested areas of the Syunik and Tavush regions of the Republic of Armenia due to the use of phosphorus munitions. The damage inflicted on the forests of Artsakh due to the use of prohibited munitions is significantly greater. In fact, international environmental organizations are turning a blind eye to the serious environmental issues caused to the environment of Armenia and Artsakh by phosphorus munitions, while the use of phosphorus weapons constitutes a gross violation of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law, customary law, Geneva Conventions, as well as the provisions established by relevant UN conventions and documents. In such a situation, the Armenian side must conduct a broader fact-finding mission and present concrete evidence not only of the damage caused to the environment of Armenia and Artsakh due to Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression but also to raise awareness about the inaction and indifference of international environmental organizations.