Epress.am News from Armenia
As is the case every Thursday, groups of people were gathered outside the Armenian government building today protesting various causes. One group, in particular, was protesting the exploitation of mines in Armenia.
“The thing is, Armenia is being subject to powerful mining exhaustion; that is, they are opening all those possible mines and pits that during the Soviet Union were even considered not necessary to open. More than 450 licenses have been handed out and about 200 licenses are being processes; that is, relevant studies and research work is being carried out so that these are opened too. And the government isn’t listening to all this,” protestor and chair of the Gyumri-based Asparez Journalists’ Club Levon Barseghyan told journalists today.
Protestors had brought many signs with them: one of them had the inscription “The People’s Wealth: Mine Devourers” with images below of RA President Serzh Sargsyan, second president of Armenia Robert Kocharian, director of the Zangezur copper plant Maxim Hakobyan, former environment minister and current MP Vardan Ayvazyan, MP Hermine Naghdalyan, MP and prominent businessman Tigran Arzakantsyan, Vallex Group CEO Valeri Mejlumyan, and president and owner of Metal Prince Ltd. Corporation and Akhtala Ore Processing Plant CJSC Serop Der-Boghossian (who is charged with pedophilia and whose case is currently in court).
During the protest, a group of youth on bicycles and with more posters joined the demonstration. One of these, activist Samvel Hovhannisyan, said they came from the settlements where mines are being exploited.
“It’s enough, stop selling our Armenia; soon they’ll begin to do I-don’t-know-what in Yerevan — there won’t be any place to live. They’ve already reached Abovyan; they are polluting the entire Hrazdan area; they are tainting the air and water,” he said.
When National Security Service chief Gorik Hakobyan exited the government building, those gathered began to chant, “Go away!” (i.e. resign). Hakobyan did not comment; however, environment minister Aram Harutyunyan who stepped out somewhat later responded to journalists’ questions and presented his position.
“It’s necessary that the crust is exploited, but the environmental problems of the surrounding area have to be brought to the utmost lowest level; that is, there have to be no losses to the surrounding environment the most modern technologies have to be used, because this is a global practice, that the exploitation has to be guided by the preservation of the surrounding area. If [the surrounding environment] is not preserved or if there are other violations, we will apply the necessary measures,” he said.
Asked by journalists whether he could name those companies which are polluting the surrounding environment and are making payments in return, Harutyunyan said the Akhtala Ore Processing Plant.