Yerevan/Mediamax/. Several hundred residents of communities adjacent to Amulsar gold mine in Armenia have addressed an open letter to Serj Tankian, Vahe Berberian, Arto Tunjboyajyan and “other artists being misled”.

The letter reads:

“Dear Arto, Serj, and Vahe,  

We, the residents of Amulsar adjacent communities, express our concern and disappointment over your recent “Save Amulsar” video campaign on the web. 

We highly appreciate your sincere care for Armenia, but it is very disappointing to see so superficial judgments about one of the most important projects for Armenia - Amulsar Gold Mine Project. It is regrettable to witness that your opinions are one-sided and based on regular emotional statements and allegations by a group of activists. Meantime, this is a hot-button issue that has grabbed the attention of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who has repeatedly mentioned that any decision on Amulsar gold mine operation must be based on undisputable facts. It is noteworthy that the activists who misled you have not submitted any reliable facts to the Prime Minister to prove their allegations so far. Unfortunately, you have no information about the activists misleading you. Meantime, they have been holding a targeted campaign for years against Amulsar Project that applies European best practice amid irreversible environmental damage caused by a number of other mines operating in Armenia. Unfortunately, these “environmentalists” do not even try to combat them. The recent developments around Amulsar Project, the huge amounts of money spent on anti-Amulsar campaigns, and data we have received from various sources related to these “environmentalists” have aroused substantial doubts that it is nothing but is a well-managed and funded campaign against the country’s only major Western investor, Lydian, and consequently against economic development and social well-being of Armenian citizens. It is regrettable to see that you have been involved in this doubtful, funded campaign.

We’d like to assure you that as residents of Amulsar adjacent communities we care about safe environment more than others do. We do care for Lake Sevan and Jermuk mineral waters, like every Armenian does. However, unlike you, we are familiar with responsible environmental and technical activities of Lydian Armenia. Many of us underwent vocational training and had an opportunity to make sure at work that Lydian’s highly-qualified local and international specialists will ensure operation based on the highest industrial and environmental standards that are applied by mining companies in Canada, U.S. and elsewhere.  

A simple search in Google will show that over 1,400 mines are operated in U.S., which is a hundred times as much as in Armenia. U.S. is one of the world’s largest gold producers. So, why should we leave in a backward agrarian country, when U.S., where our dear Serj Tankian, Vahe Berberian and Arto Tunjboyajyan live, uses all industrial advantages and keeps developing thanks to mining as well? Instead of supporting a highly responsible western company investing in Armenia, you are playing into the hands of the people who hinder major investments in the country.

Don’t you want to see the well-being of your compatriots? Aren’t you concerned about constantly growing migration from Armenia? U.S. and Canada, the countries you live in, have a developed and responsible mining industry for the welfare of their peoples, while you advise us to reject our development opportunity. Where is the logic, dear artists?

For conclusion, we’d like to express our great hopes that you will at least try to get more information and facts about the project. We will be pleased to present Amulsar Project to you and answer all your questions.”