Azerbaijan Will Attempt to Halt Any Construction Happening in Yerevan: Jhanian

Azerbaijan will try to stop any construction happening even in Yerevan under the pretext of environmental concerns, as it understands that Armenia's economic growth is higher than its own. This was stated today during a conversation with journalists by Vardan Jhanian, the president of the Armenian Union of Mineworkers and Metallurgists, and the first deputy director of ZPMK.

“Even if there is construction in Yerevan, Azerbaijanis might say that it pollutes the rivers that flow into Azerbaijan via the Araks. They understand that a certain military balance could also be established, and they are conducting a hybrid war against Armenia,” he said.

According to Jhanian, Azerbaijan did not wage such a war against Armenia until the end of 2021, while now Armenia exceeds Azerbaijan even in GDP per capita. This, he says, is a serious cause for concern.

“They began with the mining industry not only in Armenia but also in Artsakh, and the issue of the Kashen mine is a prime example. In this way, they resolved the question of Artsakh. Now they have moved on to companies operating in Armenia, primarily those in the mining sector,” he noted.

It is worth mentioning that in July 2023, Azerbaijani media reported that Baku had demanded Yerevan to halt the construction of a large metallurgical plant near the border with Azerbaijan, claiming that Yerevan was obliged to inform Baku about the environmental impact of such activities.