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BRUISED OVER TEGHUT: ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE GROUP DEFIANT AFTER PROTEST BREAKUP
Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
29.07.10
The poster held by the protesters reads: "VTB Bank is the general
sponsor of the Teghut forest slaughter"
Police used force on Wednesday to break up a protest in Yerevan near a
commercial bank that intends to loan a controversial mining project in
northern Armenia. Activists were at VTB bank to protest its financing
of Armenian Copper Programme's (ACP) development of a mine in Teghut.
The activists demanded that VTB should stop the funding of the
"anti-ecological and illegal Teghut project", publicize the Bank's
environmental criteria [for loan programs] and the names of those who
have developed these criteria. The protesters further called for an
end to what they call a contemptuous attitude towards society, for
honoring the principles of transparency and accountability and also
demanded that clear answers be given to letters of environmental and
human rights organizations.
Enlarge Photo
Enlarge Photo The Government made the decision on developing the copper
and molybdenum mine in Teghut in November 2007, giving ACP a license
for 25 years. This is the first case when the government allows mining
amid a forest site. The Teghut mine - in the lush province of Lori -
is the second largest in Armenia, after the copper and molybdenum
mine in Kajaran in southern Armenia. Experts estimate that the mine
in Teghut contains more than 1.6 million tons of copper and 100,000
tons of molybdenum.
>From the very outset environmentalists in Armenia carefully monitored
the government's decision to develop the mine, constantly voicing
concerns about possible irreparable loss to the environment (damage
to the eco system, disappearance of some of the rare species of flora
and fauna, threats to public health because of tailings, etc.). ACP
officials, meanwhile, argue that the mining industry will create
new jobs for the local population and will considerably improve the
social conditions in the province and generally will contribute to the
country's economic growth. Despite the perceived benefits, however,
ACP seemed to be experiencing difficulties in finding a financial
partner for the Teghut mine operation.
Russian-owned VTB has decided this year to provide ACP with a promised
sum of about $300 million. So far only a small part of the loan has
been provided, and the provision of the basic sum has been delayed
because of the financial crisis.
At first, the activists demanded to see VTB management, but when nobody
approached them, they sat on the bank steps, hindering customers
and employees from entering. The demonstrators demanded that the
bank customers should not use the services of a bank that promotes
"the destruction of Armenia".
Police arrived to disperse the protesters. In the ensuing scuffle,
chairman of the Green Party of Armenia Armen Dovlatyan was among
those who suffered minor scrapes.
The activists also turned to the Ombudsman's office, whose
representative heard them and said: "We will decide what to do" -
and then left.
Ecologist Karine Danielyan, who in the end also joined the
demonstrators, says that the economic profit from the operation of
the mine will never be near enough to offset the environmental damages
caused by it. According to her, it will take years to compensate for
the forests now being destroyed.
"And forests not only in the territory of the mine operation will be
destroyed, but also upper forests, because water will descend into
that cavity and the upper forests will dry out," says Danielyan,
adding that the local water resources also get contaminated and the
biodiversity of the forest is vanishing.
From: A. Papazian
Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
29.07.10
The poster held by the protesters reads: "VTB Bank is the general
sponsor of the Teghut forest slaughter"
Police used force on Wednesday to break up a protest in Yerevan near a
commercial bank that intends to loan a controversial mining project in
northern Armenia. Activists were at VTB bank to protest its financing
of Armenian Copper Programme's (ACP) development of a mine in Teghut.
The activists demanded that VTB should stop the funding of the
"anti-ecological and illegal Teghut project", publicize the Bank's
environmental criteria [for loan programs] and the names of those who
have developed these criteria. The protesters further called for an
end to what they call a contemptuous attitude towards society, for
honoring the principles of transparency and accountability and also
demanded that clear answers be given to letters of environmental and
human rights organizations.
Enlarge Photo
Enlarge Photo The Government made the decision on developing the copper
and molybdenum mine in Teghut in November 2007, giving ACP a license
for 25 years. This is the first case when the government allows mining
amid a forest site. The Teghut mine - in the lush province of Lori -
is the second largest in Armenia, after the copper and molybdenum
mine in Kajaran in southern Armenia. Experts estimate that the mine
in Teghut contains more than 1.6 million tons of copper and 100,000
tons of molybdenum.
>From the very outset environmentalists in Armenia carefully monitored
the government's decision to develop the mine, constantly voicing
concerns about possible irreparable loss to the environment (damage
to the eco system, disappearance of some of the rare species of flora
and fauna, threats to public health because of tailings, etc.). ACP
officials, meanwhile, argue that the mining industry will create
new jobs for the local population and will considerably improve the
social conditions in the province and generally will contribute to the
country's economic growth. Despite the perceived benefits, however,
ACP seemed to be experiencing difficulties in finding a financial
partner for the Teghut mine operation.
Russian-owned VTB has decided this year to provide ACP with a promised
sum of about $300 million. So far only a small part of the loan has
been provided, and the provision of the basic sum has been delayed
because of the financial crisis.
At first, the activists demanded to see VTB management, but when nobody
approached them, they sat on the bank steps, hindering customers
and employees from entering. The demonstrators demanded that the
bank customers should not use the services of a bank that promotes
"the destruction of Armenia".
Police arrived to disperse the protesters. In the ensuing scuffle,
chairman of the Green Party of Armenia Armen Dovlatyan was among
those who suffered minor scrapes.
The activists also turned to the Ombudsman's office, whose
representative heard them and said: "We will decide what to do" -
and then left.
Ecologist Karine Danielyan, who in the end also joined the
demonstrators, says that the economic profit from the operation of
the mine will never be near enough to offset the environmental damages
caused by it. According to her, it will take years to compensate for
the forests now being destroyed.
"And forests not only in the territory of the mine operation will be
destroyed, but also upper forests, because water will descend into
that cavity and the upper forests will dry out," says Danielyan,
adding that the local water resources also get contaminated and the
biodiversity of the forest is vanishing.
From: A. Papazian