Sevan issue is like Karabakh issue for me: acting PM speaks of Amulsar mine exploitation

Amulsar mine will be exploited only after clear facts are presented of it being safe for Sevan and Jermuk water systems, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the NA today.

“We say, we need facts, arguments that there are no dangers for Sevan. They say there are no dangers, believe us and the presented documents. By the way, there is a criminal case in the Investigative Committee on hiding facts in the assessment of impact on environment,” Pashinyan stressed.

As to the observation that the situation created over Amulsar may result in economic decline or have a negative impact on investment environment, the acting PM said that all the previous claims about Armenia’s economic growth figures were “fakes”.

“Our economy was the following – we destroyed the mine, sold it and stated about having an export. Everyone may do so. But is it what we want? We do not want this way. We want to put our country on stable economic growth basis and turn it from agrarian country into a country of high technology where the work is being encouraged,” he said, admitting that such situations have some negative effect on the investment environment.

“We have a situation over Teghut mine, it is being spoken about 380 million USD loan. And now the Russian bank which has provided the loan is facing a serious problem as no one serves this loan. Isn't it a problem for investment environment when a bank, with some political assistance provides a loan and then it appears that no one is going to pay it back? And yes, the situation over Amulsar creates a certain negative background,” the acting PM said.

“But I insist that Sevan issue is like a Karabakh issue for me. We cannot close our eyes on it. As soon as I get a real justification of it being secure for Sevan and Jermuk water system the mine will work. If it appears that there is a danger, irrespective of anything, as a Prime Minister I cannot allow it work, as I repeat Sevan issue is like Karabakh issue for me,” Pashinyan stressed.