Amulsar Will Remain a Mountain: We Urge Decision Makers to Avoid New Adventures

In the Facebook group 'I am against mining in Amulsar,' run by residents of the Jermuk enlarged community, a statement has been published for your attention.

“Recently, some individuals and officials have expressed opinions regarding the need to resume construction of the gold open-pit mine project near the famous spa resort and brand city of Jermuk. Various unacceptable justifications have emerged, including the notion that Armenia is in a very difficult economic situation following the last war and needs money to overcome the crisis.

Understanding and appreciating the essence of this difficult period, we continue to hold the same opinion that there should be no metal mines in our region, and short-term projects should not erase the already established and sustainable development trajectories formed over seven decades.

We confirmed this through a referendum conducted in the fall of 2018, when about 3,000 residents of the Jermuk enlarged community expressed their opposition to metal mining with their signatures.

We remain united and will not allow the destruction of our living space and socio-economic established systems by any means possible. We will not permit this, especially after the war, when the border has come dangerously close to Amulsar and Jermuk, where tens of thousands of tons of toxic and dangerous chemicals and explosives are to be accumulated and utilized, according to the plan.

We urge decision-makers to soberly assess the situation and refrain from embarking on new adventures, repeating the unproven thesis that all risks are supposedly manageable. Let us remind you that their own commissioned international study unequivocally proved the contrary, and the citizens of Armenia have understood this well, despite all your efforts to present the unfavorable situation in a better light.

We kindly ask all entrepreneurs considering cooperation with companies wishing to implement the gold project in Amulsar not to do so and not to unnecessarily escalate the situation within our state. The people of Jermuk, residents of neighboring villages, and conscious citizens of Armenia will not allow the placement of a slow-acting chemical weapon in the heart of our waters, the dangerous consequences of which will continue for hundreds of years.

AMULSAR WILL REMAIN A MOUNTAIN

Protectors of Amulsar, March 3, 2021