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IRAN SAYS HAS PROJECT ON RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
July 31 2013
31 July 2013, 20:39 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved in
the shortest time possible, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen
Pakayin said at a press conference on the occasion of Quds Day on
July 31.
"The conflict has been ongoing for a long time. We have already stated
that we are willing to resolve the conflict and we have a project in
this regard. But, of course, the project will be made public in due
time," Pakayin said.
The Iranian ambassador also said he will visit the Fizuli region and
examine the Horadiz border checkpoint.
According to Pakayin, Azerbaijan and Iran have positively assessed the
opening of the "Aslanduz-Horadiz" border checkpoint and discussions
on the issue are underway.
Pakayin noted that he will visit Horadiz with his Azerbaijani
colleagues after the month of Ramadan.
Water transfer to Lake Urmia
Pakayin also said Iran and Azerbaijan have cooperated in the use of
water from Araz River for 42 years, and there is a specific agreement
to that end.
He said Iran is using part of its territory to transfer water from
Araz River into Lake Urmia.
The ambassador said further, "Azerbaijan's cautious approach to the
issue relating to Lake Urmia is understandable. The basis of this
project was laid not long ago, and two to three years are necessary for
its implementation. Excessive water from Araz River will be transferred
to Lake Urmia, because as a result of precipitation the water level
in Araz River rises and floods occur. Thanks to a special mechanism,
excessive water will be transferred to Lake Urmia."
On July 27, the opening ceremony of the project on water transfer
from Araz River to Lake Urmia and the Marand plain was held with
the participation of Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and
Energy Minister Majid Namjoo.
An investment agreement has been signed with a foreign investor in the
amount of 875 million euros for the implementation of the project. The
project envisions the transfer of water from Araz River to Julfa,
Marand, Shabestar and Tabriz plains. Within the project, the issue
of drinking water in eight towns and 81 villages will be solved.
The area of Lake Urmia is about 6,000 square kilometers. The lake's
drying up has an impact on the flora and fauna of the region. Experts
on environmental issues say that the measures taken by the Iranian
government are not enough to save the lake.
The project on directing 600 million cubic meters of water from Araz
River into Lake Urmia was launched during a visit by Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and government officials to Tabriz in 2010. Some
$1.2 billion is to be allocated to implement the project.
The Iranian government allocated $900 million for the prevention of
Lake Urmia's drying up in September 2011.
Also, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has allocated
$135 million to Iran to resolve environmental problems with shoaling
of the lake.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
July 31 2013
31 July 2013, 20:39 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved in
the shortest time possible, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen
Pakayin said at a press conference on the occasion of Quds Day on
July 31.
"The conflict has been ongoing for a long time. We have already stated
that we are willing to resolve the conflict and we have a project in
this regard. But, of course, the project will be made public in due
time," Pakayin said.
The Iranian ambassador also said he will visit the Fizuli region and
examine the Horadiz border checkpoint.
According to Pakayin, Azerbaijan and Iran have positively assessed the
opening of the "Aslanduz-Horadiz" border checkpoint and discussions
on the issue are underway.
Pakayin noted that he will visit Horadiz with his Azerbaijani
colleagues after the month of Ramadan.
Water transfer to Lake Urmia
Pakayin also said Iran and Azerbaijan have cooperated in the use of
water from Araz River for 42 years, and there is a specific agreement
to that end.
He said Iran is using part of its territory to transfer water from
Araz River into Lake Urmia.
The ambassador said further, "Azerbaijan's cautious approach to the
issue relating to Lake Urmia is understandable. The basis of this
project was laid not long ago, and two to three years are necessary for
its implementation. Excessive water from Araz River will be transferred
to Lake Urmia, because as a result of precipitation the water level
in Araz River rises and floods occur. Thanks to a special mechanism,
excessive water will be transferred to Lake Urmia."
On July 27, the opening ceremony of the project on water transfer
from Araz River to Lake Urmia and the Marand plain was held with
the participation of Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and
Energy Minister Majid Namjoo.
An investment agreement has been signed with a foreign investor in the
amount of 875 million euros for the implementation of the project. The
project envisions the transfer of water from Araz River to Julfa,
Marand, Shabestar and Tabriz plains. Within the project, the issue
of drinking water in eight towns and 81 villages will be solved.
The area of Lake Urmia is about 6,000 square kilometers. The lake's
drying up has an impact on the flora and fauna of the region. Experts
on environmental issues say that the measures taken by the Iranian
government are not enough to save the lake.
The project on directing 600 million cubic meters of water from Araz
River into Lake Urmia was launched during a visit by Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and government officials to Tabriz in 2010. Some
$1.2 billion is to be allocated to implement the project.
The Iranian government allocated $900 million for the prevention of
Lake Urmia's drying up in September 2011.
Also, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has allocated
$135 million to Iran to resolve environmental problems with shoaling
of the lake.