Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26
By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend:
Azerbaijan and Georgia will soon sign a document settling the issue of the use of water resources of the Kur River, said Adishirin Alakbarov, deputy director of Azersu's 'Su Kanali' Research and Design Institute.
The Kur River starts in northeastern Turkey, flowing through the country to Georgia, then to Azerbaijan, where it receives the Araz River as a right tributary, and enters the Caspian Sea. The river's total length is 1,515 kilometers.
Alakbarov, addressing a press conference in Baku Nov. 26, said Azerbaijan is the only country in the region to ratify the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, known as the Water Convention.
"We are very concerned over contamination of Kur and Araz," he said. "The reason behind other countries' not ratifying the Convention is that they would be obliged to not allow contamination of these rivers if they do ratify it."
He also said that certain progress has been recently achieved with Georgia on this matter, adding that the country is ready to join the Water Convention.
"Aside from that, Azerbaijan and Georgia have prepared a bilateral document on the use [of water resources] of the Kur River, which is to be singed soon," he said.
Alakbarov added that the issue of the contamination of Araz River still remains open.
"Armenia continues to contaminate Araz with household and industrial wastes, and Azerbaijani citizens in the Central Aran have to use this river's water," he added. "Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry regularly reveals the facts of pollution of the Araz River."
He also said this issue has been repeatedly raised at many international organizations.
"The World Water Council is another platform where the issue will be raised again," Alakbarov noted
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev