Areni Community Reaffirms Rejection of Metal Mining

The enlarged council of the Areni community discussed the issue of nullifying its decision made on May 6, 2019, regarding "Transforming the Areni Community into an Eco-Economic Zone and Prohibiting Metal Mining in the Community" during its meeting on July 10. The council meeting saw a heated discussion, resulting in the decision not being adopted with 2 votes in favor, 5 against, and 1 abstention, which means that the council's decision to prohibit metal mining remains in force.

It is noteworthy that on May 6, the council had decided to recognize the Areni community as an eco-economic zone, based on a petition organized by community residents, which gathered 2,868 signatures. Consequently, it prohibited all exploration and, especially, extraction activities related to metal mining in the community's administrative territory. Following that decision, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development of Armenia sent a letter to the regional governors, requesting them to approach all local self-governing bodies to suggest that they revoke decisions prohibiting mining activities in their communities.

Five communities initiated proposals to allow metal mining activities in their natural environments: the first was Novoberde in spring 2018, followed by Jermuk in autumn 2018, and later Gladzor in April 2019, and finally Areni and Yeghnagor in May 2019. The proposal to nullify or amend the decision was presented to all communities, which was also rejected by the communities of Jermuk and Novoberde.

Armenian Environmental Front Civil Initiative