Inga Zarafyan, “EcoLur”
As “Transparency International” Anticorruption Center informed “EcoLur”, NGOs appealed the dismissal of the Teghout suit by RA Administrative Court in RA. Let us remind you, that “Transparency International” Anticorruption Center, Helsinki Office in Vanadzor and “Ecodar” NGO brought a suit to RA Administrative Court against RA Government, the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of RA, as well as ACP Company, a part of Vallex Group.
The suit demands to recognize the licenses given to ACP Company for the exploitation of Teghout deposit invalid and two conclusions of the State Nature Protection Expertise and the decision of RA Government as well. Four violations of RA Constitution, the Aarhus Convention, the ESPOO Convention, the Water Code of RA, and the Land Code of RA are submitted as substantiation, as well as some provisions in RA laws “On Flora”, “On Fauna”, “On Expertise of Impact On Environment”, “On Assigning Concession of Subsoil for Exploration and Commercial Production For Exploitation of Mineral Products” are violated. The suit also contains the initial evaluation of the damage caused to the environment by the exploitation of Teghout deposit that makes up more than 1,2 billion USD.
July 24, 2009