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US AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETY AND MINING INDUSTRY IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. US ambassador to Armenia John Heffern urged
Armenia's civil activists to enter into dialogue with mining companies.
The international conference entitled "Responsible mining in Armenia
- opportunities and challenges" is held by the WB and Armenia's
government, with assistance from the EBRD, the IMF, embassies of the
USA, Great Britain and Germany and the Canadian government.
Environmental protesters offered the guests to participate in an
"irresponsible mining" conference instead. According to them,
the conference is a step to legalize ruthless robbery of Armenia's
natural resources by foreign corporations patronized by the Armenian
authorities hiding the real damage for the environment and human
health.
Heffern stressed the importance of civil society - mining industry
dialogue.
If independent organizations or individuals ignore the companies
they will be unable to get through their point of view, Heffern
told reporters.
The ambassador admitted there are problems in Armenia's mining industry
and four non-governmental organizations participate in the conference.
This conference aims at a dialogue between the government, local
communities and the companies, Heffern said.
German ambassador Rainer Morel stressed the importance of a dialogue
in the field so that the sides are able to listen to each other and
work together. He said they are not against any NGO, on the contrary,
they want to get them involved.
UK ambassador to Armenia Catherine Lynch, in her turn, said
international experts participating in the conference will present
the best international practices in mining.
Applying international standards in mining will allow using natural
resources for the benefit of the population, she said.
Earlier, a group of environmentalists managed to get into the
conference hall holding "World Bank Takes Part in Robbing Armenia",
"Hands Off from Armenia", "We Know Who Are the Owners of the Mines".
Protesters were offering glasses of water from Armenia's reservoirs
to participants, Novosti-Armenia reported.
Armenia's mining output totaled 196.6 billion drams in 2013, an
increase of 8.1% over the year.
($1=414.28drams). -0--
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/society/us_ambassador_calls_for_dialogue_between_civil_soc iety_and_mining_industry_in_armenia/#sthash.UORzoCMU.dpuf
YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. US ambassador to Armenia John Heffern urged
Armenia's civil activists to enter into dialogue with mining companies.
The international conference entitled "Responsible mining in Armenia
- opportunities and challenges" is held by the WB and Armenia's
government, with assistance from the EBRD, the IMF, embassies of the
USA, Great Britain and Germany and the Canadian government.
Environmental protesters offered the guests to participate in an
"irresponsible mining" conference instead. According to them,
the conference is a step to legalize ruthless robbery of Armenia's
natural resources by foreign corporations patronized by the Armenian
authorities hiding the real damage for the environment and human
health.
Heffern stressed the importance of civil society - mining industry
dialogue.
If independent organizations or individuals ignore the companies
they will be unable to get through their point of view, Heffern
told reporters.
The ambassador admitted there are problems in Armenia's mining industry
and four non-governmental organizations participate in the conference.
This conference aims at a dialogue between the government, local
communities and the companies, Heffern said.
German ambassador Rainer Morel stressed the importance of a dialogue
in the field so that the sides are able to listen to each other and
work together. He said they are not against any NGO, on the contrary,
they want to get them involved.
UK ambassador to Armenia Catherine Lynch, in her turn, said
international experts participating in the conference will present
the best international practices in mining.
Applying international standards in mining will allow using natural
resources for the benefit of the population, she said.
Earlier, a group of environmentalists managed to get into the
conference hall holding "World Bank Takes Part in Robbing Armenia",
"Hands Off from Armenia", "We Know Who Are the Owners of the Mines".
Protesters were offering glasses of water from Armenia's reservoirs
to participants, Novosti-Armenia reported.
Armenia's mining output totaled 196.6 billion drams in 2013, an
increase of 8.1% over the year.
($1=414.28drams). -0--
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/society/us_ambassador_calls_for_dialogue_between_civil_soc iety_and_mining_industry_in_armenia/#sthash.UORzoCMU.dpuf