EcoLur
Armenian MP Edmon Maruqyan visited Martz Village, Lori Region, where the villagers are fighting against the construction of “Martziget - 1” SHHP.
Reminder: “Martziget - 1” SHHP is to be constructed by “Martzenergy” LLC, which will be the third on the Martz River.
We present EcoLur’s interview with MP Edmon Maruqyan.
-Mr. Maruqyan, what’s the purpose of your visit to Martz Village.
-You know that Martz Village is not included in my constituency, but as this village is very close to me, I have long been planning to visit it and so I have long been planning to visit this village, and now I am here to meet and to learn the current problems that villagers have. At the meeting the villagers raised the problem of their negative position in regard with SHHP construction as their main problem and they assured they would fight and won’t allow the SHHP to be constructed.
-Are you going to interfere to give a solution to this problem? If yes, how?
-The solution of this problem depends only on Martz villagers, as they can allow the construction of the SHHP or to hinder its construction. The local government body has all the mechanisms prescribed by the law, which the villagers can use to prohibit the construction of the SHHP, and I, as an MP, can’t do anything but consultation. I have presented the villagers all the legal mechanisms, which they can use to stop the construction of SHHP.
-Have you reached any arrangement with the villagers?
- in terms of SHHP construction, I have presented the legal and social options of the fighting and the only arrangement I have with the villagers is to maintain a mutual contact.
-Which are legal and social versions?
-The first one is that the Aldermen’s Council can cancel the construction permit, while the legal option is to issue a claim to the administrative court.
-Whether your responsibilities don’t include the protection of Martz villagers’ rights and to raise this issue in front of the competent bodies?
-I have been elected by the residents of 30 constituency, which doesn’t include Martz Village, but it doesn’t matter, the most important thing is for the villagers themselves to fight together with the local government. As an MP, I have no authority to recognize the construction of the SHHP as null and void, but the village head has this authority, while the Aldermen’s Council can do more. In this case I had the impression that everybody opposed to the construction of the SHHP, including the village head and the aldermen’s council, so what hinders them to eliminate the legal grounds allowing the SHHP construction in te frames of their authorities.
May 16, 2013 at 15:35