Features of the Water Policy of Armenia and Azerbaijan: A Comparative Analysis

Armenia and Azerbaijan, when in Soviet Union, had adhered to common principles of water management and provided unified statistical reporting on water use. However, after gaining independence, these states developed their own water laws and stopped exchanging data obtained by national hydrometeorological agencies. The new regional reality and complex relations between the two countries hindered the development of common mechanisms for transboundary water management, which led to negative consequences for the environment. Water quality and its effective management have become one of the acute corners of unresolved problems existing between the two states. This study is devoted to the study of water policies of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The effectiveness and shortcomings of water management in these countries are analyzed. An attempt is made to determine how effective the process of implementing the principles of integrated water resources management is. Based on a comparative analysis of the water management of Armenia and Azerbaijan, analogies and differences in the legislation of water policy and political mechanisms of water use in these countries are established.