ArmInfo. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is not enthusiastic about the mining industry, but the tendency to demonize the sector is unacceptable to him. He stated this on September 16 at a press conference in Vanadzor.
According to him, this trend harms the national and state interests of Armenia. "I would not like to talk about this at all. Armenia is in a state of conflict and is obliged to consider the worst options and ways to meet the country's needs. God forbid, if, for example, a war starts, what will be the biggest economic and security problem? Under such conditions, the biggest economic and security problems arise when there is a shortage of currency, "he said. As the prime minister explained, the sources of currency for Armenia are tourism in the first place. But if there is a war in the country, you should not rely on tourists. For obvious reasons, export of products will also cease. "At the time of the potential crisis, the only source is mining, no matter how unpleasant this fact is for us, people who love nature. Demonizing mining means striking a blow to security," the head of government said.
According to Pashinyan, if he decides to close the Amulsar mine, then Armenia will have to answer to the international community. Namely, if Armenia is such an ecological country, then why Zangezur, Sotsk and other mines are still not closed. "And suddenly they decided to close the Amulsar project, which, at least at the project stage, is by far the best and one of the largest investment projects. Armenia will turn into a black hole on the economic map of the world," he said.
According to Pashinyan, the sewerage of coastal cities causes Sevan more damage than the Sotsk mine. "But, if we demonstrate principled position in Amulsar's issue, we should be principled in other cases as well," he said, noting that at a meeting with the owners of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, he said that the mine could not be further operated in this way. According to the prime minister, it is necessary to improve conditions at the mining enterprises, but not in a month, which would mean their closure, but gradually.
"There is no country in the world where there is a modern developed economy, but the country would not go through the stage of industry," he said. According to Pashinyan, it is necessary not only to develop the mining industry, but to go further - to export not ore, but ingots. According to Pashinyan, one should think about the construction of a gold refining plant in Armenia. "So that it would be a means of payment on which we could purchase weapons'', said Nikol Pashinyan.