OSCE Office helps eliminate immediate threat of Nubarashen chemical waste site in Armenia

YEREVAN, 6 July 2010 - The successful completion of efforts by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Armenian government to contain the immediate threat of the Nubarashen chemical waste site was marked today with a visit to the site by Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The Nubarashen chemical waste dump, which stems from the 1980s, originally contained more than 500 tonnes of obsolete pesticides, mainly DDT. The site, which covers an area of more than 3,000 square metres, also has contaminated the soil near the site and threatens several nearby villages. Recently, the site's cover was illicitly removed, creating an acute threat by exposing the dump's contents to rain. In addition, there is a risk of landslides at the site.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan co-ordinated international community support and co-operated with the Ministries of Emergency Situations and Nature Protection. As part of the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) initiative, experts from ENVSEC, the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank developed an emergency action plan to contain the immediate threat. As a result of the actions, the waste dump was covered in accordance with security standards to prevent the dissemination of contaminated water and spread of chemicals and measures were taken to prevent public access to the site.

"This is an example of excellent co-operation between the state authorities, international community and civil society. We have already achieved initial success and are moving forward to a sustainable, long-term solution," said the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos.

Further study is planned to address the risks in a long-term perspective and ways to finally resolve the problems posed by the Nubarashen site will be defined with the participation of international, state and civil society representatives.