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TALKING GREEN: PM TELLS DIASPORA ENVIRONMENTALISTS HIS GOVERNMENT HEARS THEIR CONCERNS
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
11.12.12 | 14:45
The Armenian prime minister said during his Monday meeting with
Armenian-American environmental activists in the United States that
he is "ready to discuss the issues they are concerned about and find
solutions that would satisfy them". Armenia-based environmentalists,
however, are not excited by this promise neither are they optimistic
about it.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who is in the US on a working visit,
on Monday visited the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
where environmental activists were rallying and shared their concerns
with the premier over the exploitation of mines in Armenia.
Seeing the protest, the head of the government approached the
activists who were America-based members of Civil Initiative for Teghut
Protection. Sargsyan said that the green movement is yielding results
in Armenia and that the state structures take into consideration the
opinions voiced by the movement.
"We are following your movement with great attention, are aware of your
concerns, moreover, we have numerous meetings with its representatives
and the government is assisting that movement of yours. I am convinced
that this dialogue is beneficial to our people, our state," he said.
For the past few years various green organizations and activists have
been raising serious environmental issues Armenia is challenged with,
in particular related to the development of mining industry and the
potential damage it might cause nature.
According to data by Healthcare Services Research and Development
Center, there are 670 mines in Armenia - 400 among them are functional
and 30 are iron ore mines, and 15 tailings dams.
President of Ecolur NGO Inga Zarafyan told ArmeniaNow that they have
repeatedly submitted suggestions on these issues to the current
premier, the cabinet members in general and even turned to the
president of Armenia, but no essential solutions have been found.
"The situation in Armenia today is extremely dangerous, only during
the first week of December numerous new mining projects have been
submitted that the public is unaware of," says Zarafyan adding that
if anything is to change it can be only be achieved by public pressure.
http://armenianow.com/society/environment/41869/green_movement_tigran_sargsyan_teghut_diaspora
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
11.12.12 | 14:45
The Armenian prime minister said during his Monday meeting with
Armenian-American environmental activists in the United States that
he is "ready to discuss the issues they are concerned about and find
solutions that would satisfy them". Armenia-based environmentalists,
however, are not excited by this promise neither are they optimistic
about it.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who is in the US on a working visit,
on Monday visited the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
where environmental activists were rallying and shared their concerns
with the premier over the exploitation of mines in Armenia.
Seeing the protest, the head of the government approached the
activists who were America-based members of Civil Initiative for Teghut
Protection. Sargsyan said that the green movement is yielding results
in Armenia and that the state structures take into consideration the
opinions voiced by the movement.
"We are following your movement with great attention, are aware of your
concerns, moreover, we have numerous meetings with its representatives
and the government is assisting that movement of yours. I am convinced
that this dialogue is beneficial to our people, our state," he said.
For the past few years various green organizations and activists have
been raising serious environmental issues Armenia is challenged with,
in particular related to the development of mining industry and the
potential damage it might cause nature.
According to data by Healthcare Services Research and Development
Center, there are 670 mines in Armenia - 400 among them are functional
and 30 are iron ore mines, and 15 tailings dams.
President of Ecolur NGO Inga Zarafyan told ArmeniaNow that they have
repeatedly submitted suggestions on these issues to the current
premier, the cabinet members in general and even turned to the
president of Armenia, but no essential solutions have been found.
"The situation in Armenia today is extremely dangerous, only during
the first week of December numerous new mining projects have been
submitted that the public is unaware of," says Zarafyan adding that
if anything is to change it can be only be achieved by public pressure.
http://armenianow.com/society/environment/41869/green_movement_tigran_sargsyan_teghut_diaspora