Serj Tankian: Business and Authorities the Same in Armenia

EcoLur

“NGOs motivated me to take part in this event,” said world famous rock musician Serj Tankian at his meeting with NGOs, environmental movement and mass media on 15 August. “You are working really well. Like the US, here the NGOs are dealing with the issues that Government should have addressed,” said Serj Tankian.

Serj Tankian supports forest preservation and negatively treats mining, which results in forest felling, environmental pollution, and pollution of rivers and soil. He is well aware of Teghout mine development program and even said the environmental impact assessment of Teghout project was performed by the company itself (Vallex Group) and not by independent experts, which he evaluates as something negative.

“At present, the business and authorities are the same in Armenia,” said Tankian. Under him, business should get separated from the government.

A person from the audience asked Tankian where he doesn't see any contradiction in accepting an award from the PM, as the civil society fights against the policy the PM is running. Tankian said he thinks he has been awarded by the Armenian people.

This meeting was organized by the 'Kanachastan' NGO and the Civilitas Foundation with the support of the UNDP and Counterpart International Armenia.

August 16, 2011 at 15:25