The Public Cannot Make Decisions, This is Not a Referendum Issue - Aram Manukyan on Amulsar Mine Operation

During a press conference, HAK Vice President Aram Manukyan addressed the operation of the Amulsar mine, stating, "We are reviewing all possible reports and calculations, inviting all parties, including ecologists, and gathering professional information to express our position." He emphasized, "The dust is evident, the damage to the underwater currents is obvious; there are risks everywhere. No one claims there is no danger; all reports are about mitigating the risks, and they need to measure these. We are aware of the dangers, and there are many things that concern me."

Nonetheless, Aram Manukyan acknowledged that an economic effect does exist. "The political forces that signed the contract today state that it is necessary to clean up the environment; this is not an honest struggle," he said.

Responding to a question from Tert.am about the situation Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan finds himself in, and whether he or the public should make the decision, Manukyan stated, "He should sit down with his team, speak as honestly as possible, and discuss all the pluses and minuses. It is not honest to say there are no minuses." He added that making decisions is very challenging.

"The public cannot make a decision; this is not a referendum issue. A heavy, highly professional responsible force must know and make the decision. There are external political pressures; this is a deeply professional matter," Manukyan expressed his personal opinion.

Touching upon the question of where the people's power remains, especially with the emphasis Nikol Pashinyan placed on it to become Prime Minister, he pointed out that even if a referendum is called, you will ultimately get what the political forces decide.

Aram Manukyan remarked that the current authorities do not clearly express their position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and on external diplomacy concerning Russia. In his remarks on the current government's policies, he noted that many people demand clarity.

"Perhaps in the first months, there wasn’t this clarity, but the wave has passed, and the authorities should clearly present their policies, including what economic revolution and reforms mean."

"I was perplexed by the judicial reform issue; we provided advice and held discussions, but all of that was lost. Initially, they spoke of vetting and transitional justice. The economic revolution sounded like a boom, but I haven't seen its driver; the Prime Minister cannot lead this; the team must drive it," he stated.

Manukyan also mentioned that clarity and transparency are needed regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. "The leadership of the country needs to clarify its stance. We at least have our approach; Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan also avoided clarity on this issue; no one has been clear from us; we have our own approach," he stated, identifying this as an intermediary solution based on the proposals of the co-chairs.

"This government must implement reforms first; the longer you delay painful reforms, the less possible it becomes to implement them. This parliament could have done more reforms six months ago than in the next six months," he said, adding that there might potentially be underground currents arising within the 'My Step' faction.

Despite this, Aram Manukyan remarked that the current authorities are doing good things. "Finding a fair and competent official is difficult," he noted.