Speech of Jeyhun Jafarov, Head of Executive Power of Tartar region at “Sarsang SOS ” international conference in Tartar on September 7, 2013

Speech of Chingiz Ismayilov, Doctor of Economic Sciences, ACSDA’s expert, at “Sarsang SOS ” international conference in Tartar on September 7, 2013
Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh region protests against illegal visit of Saint-Étienne mayor to Armenia-occupied territories
Speech of Ramiz Sevdimaliyev, Doctor of Political sciences, ACSDA expert at “Sarsang SOS ” international conference in Tartar on September 7, 2013

Dear guests! Dear Mr. Suleymanov!

I also welcome you on my behalf and on behalf of all population of Tartar, and I’m glad to see you in Tartar for such a vital issue. At the same time, foreign guests from Europe and many countries of the world participate here. I welcome them as well. Welcome to Tartar.

Dear participants, as you know, this is a vital issue and we gathered here to discuss it.

Currently, the most global problem in our region is lack of water. I’d like to inform you that Tartar region is located on the frontier and is developed in the sphere of agriculture.Water is much more essential both for daily and private use rather than in other regions. At the same time, water is one of important items for growing our lands and developing agriculture.

Nevertheless, we meet our need of water from Sarsang reservoir through Tartar River. Regretfully, our repugnant neighbors Armenians, who are known in the world as a terrorist state and nation, test us with water. For your information, Tartar River, which benefits from Sarsang reservoir, takes daily 1-1,5 m3 water a second for 2-3 hours. I’d like to cite some figures.Tartar region has 22 701 ha farmland area, 2 746 ha back yard, 790 ha under the state property, 3000 ha under state fund, and 169 ha state reserve fund. We grow crops in 16 615 ha, clover in 1 128 ha, corn in 469 ha, beans in 192 ha, potato in 528 ha, vegetables in 933 ha, cotton in 1090 ha, beet sugar in 385 ha, etc.All these territories are irrigated. 13 m3/sec water should be given for irrigation of about 30 thousand ha area to meet the demands of the region.

There are 420 sub-artesian wells in the region, 400 out of them are in order, and 20 are out of order. Generally, these sub-artesian wells irrigate only 9 600 ha area.

Currently, all farmlands are irrigated through wells, thus, not all of these territories are irrigated. 198 out of sub-artesian wells are directed to settlements, i.e for daily use.Additional energy limit is needed for the work of sub-artesian wells due to lack of water. If enough water flew regularly from Sarsang, we wouldn’t need these wells. We wouldn’t have to use them all 24 hours a day instead of possible 8-10 hours. Consequently, power limit of the region wouldn’t be exceeded.

We know that Khan canal, Talak canal, and Khoruzlu canal flow through land canals accordingly with capacity of 15m3, 7 m3, and 10m3a second through Chayli part of Tartar River. But only 1,5-2 m3, rarely 3m3 water flow for the last 4 months, and it doesn’t meet our needs.

Fruit trees and wholly culture of people become dry due to the lack of water, and people face serious difficulties.570 ha cotton, 300 ha sugar beet, 45 ha vegetables, and 4493 ha new plants were damaged and faded due to drought.

According to initial calculations, citizens and producers were subject to damage in the amount of5 million and 978 thousand manats. Just imagine what a big loss and damage it is to a small region with 100 thousand people and 960 km2 area.

At present, farmlands, namely clover, cotton, sugar beet areas and backyard of people need water.As water flows through the above-mentioned channelsto Seydimli, Bala Kangarli, Kangarli, Khoruzlu, Bayandur, Kabirli, Garadaghly, Damirchilar, Agh kand, Taza kand, Jamilli villages, they suffer more, thus, drinking water is provided through cars.

Imagine water both for daily use and for watering cattle and backyards to some villages is carried with water cars arranged by executive power of the region. Look and evaluate how Armenians make our people suffer by preventing water from Sarsang.

As we know, the issue was raised before the Council of Europe regarding the project on the prevention of humanitarian catastrophe of Sarsang reservoir, motion for resolution was tabled, and the proposal was adopted.Dear Mr. Suleymanov and all friends, thank you for the preparation of this project and its submittal before the Council of Europe. We wish this issue and resolution be implementedbecause as Mr. Suleymanov is right to tell that despite several resolutions adopted by Europe and OSCE, Armenians do not release our territories.

Despite all these difficulties, Tartar population has seen war and blood. I’d like toinform you that such a small region has more than 300 martyrs and over 350 Karabakh invalids. There is no any single family in Tartar where pain of war wasn’t felt. Even those who were not born yet during the war and who already study in school also feel the pains of the war. And it is a heavy shock and pain for them. Yet our population is optimist. The people of Tartar are hopeful about future.Our population is proud, and despite the occupation of our territories and war in Tartar, our repugnant neighbors couldn’t occupy even an inch of our territories. We have a village here – Gapanli. At one time heavy battles were there, we had a lot of casualties, but Armenians couldn’t invade even an inch of the village.

We’re optimist, we hope for future. We, people of Tartar, as well as all Azerbaijani nation are might enough to release our territories under the call and order of our Commander-in-Chief, respected President and believe in victory. We will release our territories.Good luck to our President and all people, who work in this direction! May God help you! Thanks!