Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, August 01, 2023
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| Ural Hatemi |
Sociologist Ural Hatemi, in an interview with Voice of America, discussed the ecological disaster occurring at Lake Urmia, its public and economic impacts on Iranian Azerbaijan, the Iranian government's policies regarding Lake Urmia, and the reactions of various groups in the region to the ongoing tragedy.
He says that the drying up of Lake Urmia is not just a local issue.
For many years, the population in various regions of Iranian Azerbaijan has been suffering from the dust storms caused by Lake Urmia. Experts warn that as the lake shrinks, the danger of salt storms will increase. Isa Kəlantəri, the secretary of the Lake Urmia Revitalization Center, which operated during President Rouhani’s tenure, reported several years ago that skin and respiratory diseases, as well as other fatal illnesses, have appeared around Lake Urmia, similar to those that arose due to the drying up of the Aral Sea.
According to Ural Hatemi, “The issue of Lake Urmia has been raised by the Turks for 15-20 years because it is a problem they directly face in the region. It is a matter that affects their lives, economy, and future. In other words, the issue was taken up by the Turks, and they started protests about it."
According to reports published by human rights defenders, since 2010, hundreds of citizens have been arrested, tried, or faced pressure from Iran's intelligence agencies due to campaigns, protests, and even meetings organized to discuss the government's policies regarding Lake Urmia.
Some activists argue that the Iranian government has deliberately dried up Lake Urmia and is attempting to force the local population to emigrate.
Ural Hatemi says, “States can pursue certain policies over such issues; policies to reduce or increase the population of a region or force migration. It is necessary to find the documents on this issue. We need to discuss it with evidence. In my opinion, when the issue is about Azerbaijan, the government works a bit slowly. When it comes to Azerbaijan, it does not take the necessary actions.”
He adds, “What does the government’s policy show? The budget shows. How much money is allocated for Lake Urmia in the annual budget? What policies does the government implement regarding the agricultural lands around Lake Urmia? What policies are in place for the wells in the area? Were correct policies followed regarding the dams built on the rivers that feed into the lake? There is no concrete action from the government. When these actions are not taken, of course, people will say that the government is doing this intentionally.”
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Ural Hatəmi: Urmiyə gölünün quruması qlobal problemdir