Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF)
The interest of mining companies toward Armenia has not faded away. On March 25-26, an international conference titled “Responsible Mining in Armenia: Opportunities and Challenges” will be held in Yerevan to discuss ways of developing mining in our country. The conference is being organized by the World Bank and Armenian government, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Embassy of the United States, German Embassy in Yerevan, British Embassy and Canadian government.
It is safe to assume that one of the main reasons the conference is being held is because, over the last several years, the environmental movement in Armenia has gained greater momentum and raised the ecological consciousness of citizens. This has caused problems for the industry in terms of finding ways to dialogue with the public.
In addition, there have been countless legislative changes made in the sector which, according to experts and environmental activists, go against the interests of the Armenian people. These reforms relegate Armenia to a mere “tasty morsel” for foreign investors and local clients.
By utilizing the term “responsible” in its title, the conference is also attempting to justify the further exploitation of both small and large mines in our country (mines such as Amoulsar, Teghut, Shatoun, and so on). We strongly refute this attempt to speed up the tempo of such uncontrolled mining in a small nation like Armenia, no matter how dressed up it is with flowery international terminology. These practices have already caused catastrophic ecological damage in countless places, something which has been witnessed and documented by both local populations and environmentalists.
We are not directing our words to the financial interests, banks, and companies behind these mining operations because previous attempts have shown us that they are concerned only with their business interests. Unfortunately, this pursuit leads them to regularly violate their own professed values of environmental protection, human safety, and health.
Neither are we directing our words toward the Armenian government because, to this day, the countless concerns and reports directed to state bodies by citizens have gone without proper response. Those who have committed crimes against environmental safety have not been subject to any sort of punishment or liability.
We are left to turn to you, the experts invited to this conference, who we believe are truly independent and impartial parties. Prior to your participation in the conference, we urge you to familiarize yourself with the predatory nature in which mining is operated in Armenia. What have been the benefits and losses of this industry in Armenia? What stage have we reached today?
We sincerely doubt the effectiveness of such conferences because, in practice, we see a completely different picture on the ground in Armenia than the one being projected. That picture is one of no impartial assessments of mines prior to their exploitation; no state oversight of operations; no serious investigations into the damage being caused to environmental and human health; legislative acts being created to give the most favorable profit-making conditions for mine operators; and the exportation of raw materials out of the country, leaving the resulting poison as the only legacy for people to inherit.
We welcome the opening up of the conference to the public and non-governmental organizations. However, this participation should not just be a mere formality. The public interest must be decided according to the real picture of mining in the country and by becoming familiar with the social and health issues of affected local populations.
We are confident that, as experts in the field, you have independent views. We feel it is our responsibility to show you the real face of mining in Armenia. Below we present two videos alongside this open letter, in the hopes that you will familiarize yourself with the facts featured in these films and come to your own conclusions.
Who is exploiting Armenia’s soil and how are they doing so? What environmental and health issues are emerging due to mining? Finally, what are the Armenian people gaining from all of this?
“Armenia’s Breaking Backbone” Eco-documentary Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyRdxRT2v5Y?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>
“Mining is a Threat to the Syunik Region” AR TV Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYkGXzUahyc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>
March 24, 2014 at 16:41