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KAJARAN MAYOR RESIGNS IN PROTEST; VOWS TO FIGHT MINING INTERESTS
Grisha Balasanyan
hetq
14:33, December 15, 2011
Yesterday, Kajaran Mayor Rafik Atayan told Hetq that he has resigned
from his post and from the ruling Republican Party as well.
Atayan says he's been pressured by the party to sign off on a contract
that would allocate Kajaran municipal lands to the Zangezur Copper
Molybdenum Combine. He wouldn't agree to the deal and has resigned
in protest.
The former mayor told Hetq that he will fight alongside Kajaran
residents to oppose the land swap.
"The entire village has decided to oppose the deal. We will not cave
in and hand our homes over to anyone," Atayan stated.
The government has decided to hand over Kajaran property and lands from
neighboring villages to the mining company in an "eminent domain" deal.
Zangezur Combine has brought in heavy equipment to Kajaran to start
exploratory mining, but residents have so far prevented the company
from doing so.
Grisha Balasanyan
hetq
14:33, December 15, 2011
Yesterday, Kajaran Mayor Rafik Atayan told Hetq that he has resigned
from his post and from the ruling Republican Party as well.
Atayan says he's been pressured by the party to sign off on a contract
that would allocate Kajaran municipal lands to the Zangezur Copper
Molybdenum Combine. He wouldn't agree to the deal and has resigned
in protest.
The former mayor told Hetq that he will fight alongside Kajaran
residents to oppose the land swap.
"The entire village has decided to oppose the deal. We will not cave
in and hand our homes over to anyone," Atayan stated.
The government has decided to hand over Kajaran property and lands from
neighboring villages to the mining company in an "eminent domain" deal.
Zangezur Combine has brought in heavy equipment to Kajaran to start
exploratory mining, but residents have so far prevented the company
from doing so.