"EcoLur" Informational NGO sent a request to Armen Stepanyan, Director of Sustainable Development at "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine" CJSC and Director of the company's charity fund, on January 25, 2023, regarding the protest action organized in front of the administrative building of "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine". The survey mentions, “On January 25, 2023, a group of citizens protested in front of the administrative building of Zangezur copper-molybdenum combine. Protesters blocked the road leading to the combine. The participants of the protest action demanded from the management of the combine to compensate for their health damages, to restore the Qajaran residents laid off in 2021 and employ the demobilized Qajaran residents, also raised the ecological problems of Qajaran community, in particular, the problem of dust pollution. On the same day, a tripartite meeting was held with the participation of the protesters, representatives of Qajaran municipality and "Zangezur copper-molybdenum combine" CJSC.
In accordance with Article 6 of RA Law "On Freedom of Information", please, to inform:
What problems does "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine" CJSC see in the protest?
Regarding the issues raised by the participants of the action, whether ZPMC CJSC plans to meet the posed demands:
- to compensate for damages caused to health,
- to reinstate Qajaran residents who were fired in 2021,
- to employ demobilized Qajaran residents,
- to solve the dust pollution problem of Qajaran community".
In response, Media and Public Relations Department of "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine" CJSC wrote, "Today, 4,607 people work for ZCMC, out of which 2,481 are residents of Qajaran community, whereas 1,629 are Kapan residents. Only in the last one year, 216 people from Qajaran community were employed by ZCMC. In the same period, 45 newly demobilized young men were employed. We think the numbers speak for themselves.
ZCMC new administration has nothing to do with the issue of people dismissed in 2021, because it happened under the previous management. We consider it necessary to emphasize that the company is guided by its own policy in terms of human resources management and within the framework of its social responsibility, gives priority to the issue of employment of socially disadvantaged families. All decisions are based on the combination of the company's efficiency, fair competition and the interests of the communities.
Regarding "compensation", we consider it important to emphasize that any claim about "damage to health" has no solid evidence and is dangerous, considering that such groundless claims are used against Armenia. We believe that there is no such amount of money that will compensate for "damage to health". Health has no price and we are sure that the health of the residents of the affected communities is not harmed as a result of the company's activities.
It should be noted that our employees and their family members benefit from the best health insurance package, which includes a complete list of diagnosis and treatment. Within the framework of social support programs, the organization also implements many programs for the development and improvement of the health sector in the region.
All our efforts are aimed at the gradual solution of environmental problems accumulated over the years. Solving these problems requires time, joint efforts and mutual trust. We think we are all in agreement in this respect and ready for constructive work."
February 03, 2023 at 16:34