Azerbaijani media, citing the announcement made by Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyn Bagirov, reports that if Iran wants to use water from the River Araz to fill drought stricken Lake Urmia, it must coordinate this issue with Azerbaijan.
“The decision on this issue can only be taken on the basis of the existing agreements,” said the minister adding “The agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Iran have determined the environmental norms and water volumes that can be used by the parties, as well as which equipment and facilities can be established and built on this rive”.
Note, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has allocated $135 million to Iran to resolve its environmental problems with shoaling at Lake Urmia. The Iranian government allocated $900 million for this purpose in September 2011.
