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DIASPORAN YOUTH URGE PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TO HALT TEGHOUT MINE
http://hetq.am/eng/news/19814/diasporan-youth-urge-president-sargsyan-to-halt-teghout-mine.html
11:55, October 24, 2012
On the weekend of October 13, at an AYF Eastern Region senior seminar
themed "Project Armenia", AYF Seniors signed a letter addressed
to President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, and
the Vallex Corporation. The letter, reproduced below along with a
selection of signatures, calls on the parties to cease the illegal
mining operations going on in Teghout forest unless and until a fair
and non-biased Environmental Impact Assessment is conducted.
President Serzh Sargsyan Office of the President of the Republic of
Armenia 26 Baghramian Avenue Yerevan, Republic of Armenia 0077
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan Government House 1 Yerevan, Republic
of Armenia 0010
Dear Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister,
We are a group of youth activists in the diaspora, members of the
Armenian Youth Federation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
of the Eastern Region of the United States. We are writing to you
to discuss a matter which is of urgent concern to us as members of
the Armenian nation, regarding the mining operations going on in
Teghut forest.
As you know, the January 25, 2012 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe Declaration No. 503 found that these operations, and the
manner in which they were approved by the Government of Armenia,
are in violation of domestic and international laws and agreements.
The issue demands immediate attention, but cases brought in Armenian
courts have been procedural bases without attention to the substance of
the claims. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIP) which purportedly
enumerated and calculated the harms which would be caused by the mining
is deeply flawed and information disseminated based on it is likewise
false. The damage being done to Teghut is final - it cannot be undone.
The benefits of mining in Teghout in this manner have not been
demonstrated by data or sound evidence to an extent that it is shown
to be efficient and a good decision economically and environmentally.
While the mine may create jobs, they will be temporary. The mining
and taxing fees are not enough to outweigh the costs of ecological
loss, deterioration of health and loss of future opportunities the
land may present in the future.
The Government of Armenia has a responsibility to exercise careful
foresight in the expending of Armenia's resources. Future generations
must not be deprived for the sake of temporary economic gains today.
With this letter, we formally request that a new, independent and
transparent Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted in order to:
1. Comply with domestic and international laws
2. Determine and present an accurate analysis of the environmental
impact of the Teghout mining operations
3. Address the potential public health impacts of the Teghout mining
operations
4. Take alternative development options to mining into consideration
(such as eco-tourism) as required by Armenian law
5. Restore public faith and trust in government
If the mining can be justified, then the information should be
presented in a transparent, accessible and well-documented manner. The
conclusion should be based on independent economic, environmental
and legal analysis. The public should be allowed input, and their
and our voices taken into consideration.
Until a new EIP is conducted and a justified decision is made,
international best practice indicates that the mining should be
suspended, due to its potentially dangerous consequences.
As young Armenians who feel invested in the future of the Republic of
Armenia, we are passionate about taking any opportunities we can to
voice our opinions. Members of the Diaspora are involved in actions
taken on behalf of Teghout in Armenia and outside the Republic.
We look forward to receiving your response to this letter within
10 business days. You may respond to our request by writing to
[email protected] .
Respectfully yours,
The undersigned.
October 15, 2012
http://hetq.am/eng/news/19814/diasporan-youth-urge-president-sargsyan-to-halt-teghout-mine.html
11:55, October 24, 2012
On the weekend of October 13, at an AYF Eastern Region senior seminar
themed "Project Armenia", AYF Seniors signed a letter addressed
to President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, and
the Vallex Corporation. The letter, reproduced below along with a
selection of signatures, calls on the parties to cease the illegal
mining operations going on in Teghout forest unless and until a fair
and non-biased Environmental Impact Assessment is conducted.
President Serzh Sargsyan Office of the President of the Republic of
Armenia 26 Baghramian Avenue Yerevan, Republic of Armenia 0077
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan Government House 1 Yerevan, Republic
of Armenia 0010
Dear Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister,
We are a group of youth activists in the diaspora, members of the
Armenian Youth Federation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
of the Eastern Region of the United States. We are writing to you
to discuss a matter which is of urgent concern to us as members of
the Armenian nation, regarding the mining operations going on in
Teghut forest.
As you know, the January 25, 2012 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe Declaration No. 503 found that these operations, and the
manner in which they were approved by the Government of Armenia,
are in violation of domestic and international laws and agreements.
The issue demands immediate attention, but cases brought in Armenian
courts have been procedural bases without attention to the substance of
the claims. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIP) which purportedly
enumerated and calculated the harms which would be caused by the mining
is deeply flawed and information disseminated based on it is likewise
false. The damage being done to Teghut is final - it cannot be undone.
The benefits of mining in Teghout in this manner have not been
demonstrated by data or sound evidence to an extent that it is shown
to be efficient and a good decision economically and environmentally.
While the mine may create jobs, they will be temporary. The mining
and taxing fees are not enough to outweigh the costs of ecological
loss, deterioration of health and loss of future opportunities the
land may present in the future.
The Government of Armenia has a responsibility to exercise careful
foresight in the expending of Armenia's resources. Future generations
must not be deprived for the sake of temporary economic gains today.
With this letter, we formally request that a new, independent and
transparent Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted in order to:
1. Comply with domestic and international laws
2. Determine and present an accurate analysis of the environmental
impact of the Teghout mining operations
3. Address the potential public health impacts of the Teghout mining
operations
4. Take alternative development options to mining into consideration
(such as eco-tourism) as required by Armenian law
5. Restore public faith and trust in government
If the mining can be justified, then the information should be
presented in a transparent, accessible and well-documented manner. The
conclusion should be based on independent economic, environmental
and legal analysis. The public should be allowed input, and their
and our voices taken into consideration.
Until a new EIP is conducted and a justified decision is made,
international best practice indicates that the mining should be
suspended, due to its potentially dangerous consequences.
As young Armenians who feel invested in the future of the Republic of
Armenia, we are passionate about taking any opportunities we can to
voice our opinions. Members of the Diaspora are involved in actions
taken on behalf of Teghout in Armenia and outside the Republic.
We look forward to receiving your response to this letter within
10 business days. You may respond to our request by writing to
[email protected] .
Respectfully yours,
The undersigned.
October 15, 2012