Armenia has notified Turkey about the fortification works on the coastal section of the Araks River in accordance with the contractual provisions. MFA

The Armenian Foreign Ministry, in response to a request from Sputnik Armenia , commented on why Yerevan is agreeing with Ankara on the project to build a dam on the banks of the Araks River, even though there is no such requirement in the agreement.

We wrote earlier that for a year and a half now, Armenia has been coordinating with Turkey on the issue of building a dam on the banks of the Arax River. However, the Convention on Transboundary Rivers and Streams between the countries implies that Armenia is only obliged to “warn in time” about the construction. There is no need for “coordination.”

Sputnik Armenia sent a request to the Foreign Ministry, asking why Armenia is coordinating the construction of the dam with Turkey, including the design documents, when, according to the agreement signed between the USSR and Turkey in 1972, Yerevan should simply inform about it.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the Republic of Armenia has notified the Republic of Turkey about the fortification works on the coastal section of the Araks River, in accordance with the contractual provisions.

"At the same time, as necessary, there are contacts and consultations between the parties on the topic, within the logic of cooperation between the two neighboring countries," the Foreign Ministry added.

It should be noted that the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure had earlier reported not about a "notification", but about an "agreement".

In particular, we were informed months ago that the process of coordinating the project documents with the Turkish side is continuing, with the mediation of the RA Foreign Ministry.

We received a similar response about agreeing to it last summer.

We wrote earlier that the cost of building a dam to return the Araks River to its former course in the Araksavan and Burastan communities will be about $1 million.

Let us remind you that as a result of illegal sand mining, the Araks River, which runs along the border with Turkey, has changed its course, and an island of about 400 hectares has formed outside its borders.

To avoid problems, the ministry has proposed building a dam-barrier about 130 meters long and 8 meters deep on the current bed of the Araks River to direct the river's waters to their former course.