EcoLur
The Aarhus Convention’s compliance committee in Geneva reached a decision Armenia doesn’t comply with certain obligations imposed on it as a Convention Party. In its decision the Committee proposes the Government of Armenia to take necessary measures to regulate this situation on legislative and administrative level and to take practical measures. This decision was reached in reply to the communication filed by three NGOs – Transparency International Anti-corruption Centre, Ecodar and Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly of Vanadzor. We speak about long-term development of copper and molybdenum deposits in Teghut, Lori Region, when right to efficient public participation related to decision-making was violated (Part 2 of the Aarhus Convention).
The communication alleges that judicial practice is still restrictive in the interpretation of the provisions allowing for locus standi (namely the ability of an individual or entity to show at a court that it has sufficient interest and connection to a situation that support its participation in a case before the court) to organizations in environmental cases. Different courts illegitimately rejected the claims lodged by different NGOs. Since 2006 public has been demanding to stop Teghout project. In 2007 a protest demonstration was held against Teghout project, and as a result, 4000 mail-appeals were sent from different countries to e-mails of various state bodies and organs.
In 2009 Teghout Support Group activists collected more than 10,000 signatures against Teghout project
Reminder, Armenia is a Party to the Aarhus Convention and assumed appropriate obligations since May 2001, the date of the convention ratification.
October 28, 2010