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ENVIRONMENTALISTS CONTINUE FIGHT TO PROTECT LAKE SEVAN
Astghik Khachatryan
http://hetq.am/en/ecology/sevan-7/
20 09/06/04 | 18:52
Ecology
At a press conference held today, Inga Zarafyan, President of Ecolur,
an environmental NGO, stated that as a result of the warnings raised
by the group and other concerned social activists, a number of RoA
ministers have come out against plans by GeoProMining to build a gold
reprocessing plant on the shores of Lake Sevan.
She stated that among those voicing opposition to the Sotk plan
were Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan, Economic
Minister Nerses Yeritsyan and Vladimir Movsisyan, President of the
Lake Sevan Committee.
President Serzh Sargsyan, in a statement made to residents of
Gegharkunik Marz, said that if the plant will be of benefit the
government will back it but if the plant will do more harm than good,
the government will back off.
Mrs. Zarafyan concluded that the president is thus waiting for more
concrete evidence that the Sotk plant will be of economic benefit. She
said that GeoProMining is now conducting feasibility studies to obtain
such proof. The studies should be completed by this October. In her
opinion, the lobby in support of the project will then take off and
that the company will attempt to change the law regarding Lake Sevan
in its favor.
She also said that GeoProMining Executive Dirtector Dima Kalandadze
and Vardan Vardanyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GPM Gold,
a sister company, have stated that if they aren't granted the right
to relocate the Sotk plant to Sevan that they would refuse to operate
the Sotk mine. Presently, the mineral ore extracted from Sotk is
reprocessed in Ararat.
SOS Sevan, an alliance of concerned environmemntal groups, is afraid
that if GeoProMining is allowed to set up shop on the shores of Lake
Sevan it will open the doors for other companies to follow. Thus,
SOS Sevan states that it is preparing to expand its activities in the
public sphere to raise awareness about the dangers of the Sotk project.
Astghik Khachatryan
http://hetq.am/en/ecology/sevan-7/
20 09/06/04 | 18:52
Ecology
At a press conference held today, Inga Zarafyan, President of Ecolur,
an environmental NGO, stated that as a result of the warnings raised
by the group and other concerned social activists, a number of RoA
ministers have come out against plans by GeoProMining to build a gold
reprocessing plant on the shores of Lake Sevan.
She stated that among those voicing opposition to the Sotk plan
were Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan, Economic
Minister Nerses Yeritsyan and Vladimir Movsisyan, President of the
Lake Sevan Committee.
President Serzh Sargsyan, in a statement made to residents of
Gegharkunik Marz, said that if the plant will be of benefit the
government will back it but if the plant will do more harm than good,
the government will back off.
Mrs. Zarafyan concluded that the president is thus waiting for more
concrete evidence that the Sotk plant will be of economic benefit. She
said that GeoProMining is now conducting feasibility studies to obtain
such proof. The studies should be completed by this October. In her
opinion, the lobby in support of the project will then take off and
that the company will attempt to change the law regarding Lake Sevan
in its favor.
She also said that GeoProMining Executive Dirtector Dima Kalandadze
and Vardan Vardanyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GPM Gold,
a sister company, have stated that if they aren't granted the right
to relocate the Sotk plant to Sevan that they would refuse to operate
the Sotk mine. Presently, the mineral ore extracted from Sotk is
reprocessed in Ararat.
SOS Sevan, an alliance of concerned environmemntal groups, is afraid
that if GeoProMining is allowed to set up shop on the shores of Lake
Sevan it will open the doors for other companies to follow. Thus,
SOS Sevan states that it is preparing to expand its activities in the
public sphere to raise awareness about the dangers of the Sotk project.