EcoLur
On 8 July the public hearings on amending Qajaran copper and molybdenum mining reserves and their impact assessment were held at Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine, Syunik Region.
Before the start of the hearings ZCMC Deputy Director Vahe Hakobyan notified EcoLur that area belongs to them, while EcoLur is a guest and they are entitled to remove the guests from this area. In reply to the question whether there would be any notification, Vahe Hakobyan said, if needed, EcoLur would be the first to know it.
Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine has special security system, which obeys to the combine administration and may not allow those people to take part in the hearings, for whom they have relevant orders (about which ZCMC Deputy Director Vahe Hakobyan informed EcoLur).
Combine security officers, who were standing in front of the canteen doors, where the hearings were held, first didn't allow the representatives of 'EcoRight' NGO to enter the canteen explaining it with being late. Only after receiving the permission of the organizers 'EcoRight' NGO was able to enter the hall. It was additional pressure on the participants. The organizers of the hearings should be guided by law and not their internal regulations.
We think that these organized hearings contradict the procedure of public notification and discussions, particularly free access of the participants to the venue of the hearings, right to freely express their opinion, right to availability of discussed documents and their familiarization. For these very reasons we think new public hearings shall be organized taking into the consideration the law.
July 11, 2016 at 17:01