Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced at the Armenian National Assembly today that the government has provided USD 300,000 from the state budget to an established international company for a comprehensive investigation of Amulsar mine.
“The investigation will answer the question whether the possible environmental risks of Amulsar mine operation are manageable and acceptable. It is conducted in the scope of the relevant criminal investigation. I state very clearly: if the investigation finds that the mine creates environmental risks for the Jermuk water basin and Lake Sevan, the entire project will be shut down. If it finds that the risks are minor, which means they are manageable, the project will be implemented,” Pashinyan said in response to a question from Artur Grigoryan, MP with the Prosperous Armenia group.
The Prime Minister has added that the issue has dragged on for so long because Lydian refused to cooperate with the government.
“If you recall, I went to Jermuk and convened a meeting, where I suggested working together to come to a fact-based conclusion. What is my problem? My problem is that I do not have the basis for a decision, because the government admits that the system of environmental impact assessment (EIA) has gaps and vulnerable points.
I invited the Minister of Nature Protection for a meeting and asked him: “Here we have the EIA. Can you guarantee that what it says is correct?” He replied: “No, I cannot guarantee that.” Therefore, we had to conduct an investigation, the results of which would become the basis for our decision. I cannot and I do not want to make a decision roughly or at random. The government will act based on the conclusions of the investigation,” said Pashinyan.
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