Author: Tvankchian Parkev

Karine Appy
Attachée de presse
Press Officer
FIDH
+33 1 43 55 14 12
+33 1 43 55 25 18
+33 6 68 42 93 47

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l’Homme

Communiqué

Turquie/Meurtre de Hrant Dink

Ouverture du procès des meurtriers de Hrant Dink:
une occasion de pointer les véritables responsabilités
et de prévenir de futurs crimes racistes

Paris, le 29 juin 2007 – Le 2 juillet 2007, s’ouvrira à Istanbul le
procès des meurtriers présumés du journaliste turc, Hrant Dink.
Assassiné le 19 janvier 2007, en pleine rue, devant son bureau à
Istanbul, ce journaliste d’origine arménienne était en première ligne
du mouvement en faveur des réformes démocratiques en Turquie. Fervent
défenseur de l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne, il
incarnait le dialogue entre Turcs et Arméniens. La FIDH avait vivement
interpellé les autorités turques afin qu’elles recherchent activement
les exécutants et les commanditaires de ce crime et, à l ‘occasion de
son 36ème Congrès, demandé à la justice turque de mener une enquête
transparente et approfondie afin d’établir toutes les responsabilités
dans l’assassinat de Hrant Dink.

En raison de l’ge du présumé meurtrier, Ogün Samast, 17 ans, les
audiences se tiendront à huis clos. Selon l’acte d’accusation, il
devra répondre de nombreuses charges, dont celles d’`homicide avec
préméditation’ et d’`appartenance à une organisation terroriste’. Les
procureurs requièrent contre lui une peine allant entre 18 et 24 ans
de prison. Il encourt une peine supplémentaire de 8,5 à 18 ans de
prison pour appartenance à une organisation terroriste et port d’arme
illégal. Les deux instigateurs présumés de l’assassinat, Erhan Tuncel
et Yasin Hayal, risquent la réclusion à perpétuité. Le premier est
passible en outre d’une peine allant de 22,5 à 48 ans de prison
notamment pour avoir dirigé une organisation terroriste et le second,
gé de 26 ans, d’une peine supplémentaire de 18 à 30 ans de prison pour
le même motif ainsi que pour avoir fourni l’argent et l’arme du
crime. Des peines allant de 7,5 à 35 ans de prison ont été requises
contre les 15 autres accusés, tous originaires de Trabzon, pour
complicité de meurtre et appartenance à un groupe terroriste.

L’enquête criminelle, menée par deux procureurs et les services de
police de la division anti-terroriste d’Istanbul, a révélé des
complicités et des négligences au sein de l’appareil d’Etat, notamment
dans les services de police et de gendarmerie. La police de Trabzon
aurait ainsi informé Ankara et Istanbul, dès février 2006, des plans
de ce groupe pour tuer Hrant Dink. Ces éléments n’auraient pas été
pris au sérieux. Le gouverneur et le chef de la police de Trabzon ont
été mutés, et le chef des renseignements de la police d’Istanbul,
Ahmet Ilhan Güler, a été suspendu de ses fonctions, une procédure
d’enquête a également été entreprise à son encontre. Quant au numéro
un de la police d’Istanbul, Celalettin Cerrah, qui avait un moment nié
toute "dimension politique ou organisation derrière ce crime", il a
fait l’objet d’une enquête préliminaire stoppée sur décision du
gouverneur d’Istanbul, celui-ci ne voyant aucune justification à une
telle enquête. Les avocats de Hrant Dink ont fait appel de cette
décision. La procédure est toujours en cours.

L’enquête a également établi des liens entre le groupe terroriste et
une organisation politique ultranationaliste, le Parti de la Grande
Union, et son mouvement de jeunesse, `Foyers Alperen’. Les avocats
réclament l’examen détaillé de ces relations pendant le procès.

Les médias turcs ont en outre mis en lumière que plusieurs personnes
auraient été exclues du cadre des investigations. Ils ont révélé que
deux personnes, l’une appartenant aux services secrets de la
Gendarmerie et l’autre à la Police de Trabzon, auraient eu des
contacts répétés avec les suspects. Des dizaines de contacts
téléphoniques avec Ogün Samast, le principal accusé, auraient été
enregistrés pendant la période précédant le meurtre. Cependant, seule
une partie de ces conversations aurait été transmise aux procureurs en
charge de l’enquête.

La FIDH rappelle qu’il est indispensable que le procès se déroule dans
des conditions de sécurité et de transparence, permettant à la justice
de travailler sereinement. La FIDH demande également à ce que la
lumière soit faite sur toutes les responsabilités directes et
indirectes qui ont conduit à cet assassinat et les commanditaires
véritables soient identifiés, quels qu’ils soient.

La FIDH réitère, dans cette perspective, son total soutien aux avocats
de la famille Dink et porte toute son attention et ses espoirs sur la
justice turque afin que toutes les questions soulevées dans ce crime
soient élucidées, notamment la possible implication des services de
police et de gendarmerie mais aussi les défaillances de l’Etat et du
pouvoir politique à protéger un citoyen qui vivait sous la menace de
manière notoire.

Contact presse : Karine Appy + 33 1 43 55 14 12 / + 33 1 43 55 25 18
—

OPPOSITION IS DOOMED TO FAILURE IN CASE OF NOT HAVING A COMMON CANDIDATE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 28, 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Shavarsh Kocharian, the Chairman of
the National Democratic Party, at the June 27 press conference said
that the opposition will be doomed to failure in case of not having a
common candidate in the 2008 presidential elections. He also said that
NDP’s supporting any candidate will be senseless in case of lack of
a common candidate. "If the common candidate is Vazgen Manukian, this
will be more acceptable for us. However, if there are many candidates,
the result will be already clear, and our supporting V. Manukian will
decide nothing," S.

Kocharian said.

In the NDP’s Chairman’s words, as a result of the constitutional
amendments Armenia has become a semi-presidential country, and the
issue of power has been solved after the parliamentary elections. The
President of the country, who will not represent the parliamentary
majority, will have limited levers, and indeed the Prime Minister
will be the first figure in the power.

However, the President, who will represent the parliamentary majority,
will be a "super-powerful President." In S. Kocharian’s words, that
is why the current Prime Minister, the Chairman of RPA Board, Serge
Sargsian is striving for becoming a President.

ANNUAL FIFTH CYCLING TRIP YEREVAN-STEPANAKERT-YEREVAN FINISHES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 28, 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The annual fifth
cycling trip Yerevan-Stepanakert-Yerevan organized by the Armenian
Technology Group fund finished on June 27. 18 cyclists, 9 of whom
were from the United States of America, took part in the seven-day
trip which started on June 21.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by Zhan-Varuzh Mikayelian, the executive director of the American
office of the Armenian Technology Group fund, the cycling trip was
organized for charitable purposes: "Fundraising was implemented within
the framework of this action, and a number of agricultural equipment
costing 35 thousand U.S.

dollars will be bought with the profit received from it. They
will be brought into Armenia from the United States during the two
forthcoming months and will be placed at the disposal of certain
rural communities," he mentioned.

Zhan-Varuzh Mikayelian also mentioned that there were three main goals
for organizing the cycling trip; to support Armenia’s agriculture,
develop ecoturism, and promote a healthy way of life.

Armenian Marvels

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Berdj Achdjian writes: Since the dark years of Communism, the most
marvellous Armenian liturgical textiles have lain buried in the
reserves of the National History Museum of Armenia and the Treasury of
Edjmiadsin (the equivalent of the Vatican for Armenians) and, it must
be admitted, under layers of dust. When, in 1978, I went for the
first time to Armenia and saw these textiles,I started to dream that
one day they would be displayed in the world’s greatest museums.

Thirty years later, encouraged by Dickran Kouymjian, Marielle
Martiniani-Reber from the Musée Historique in Geneva and Genevieve
Cornu grasped the importance of the subject and drew up a plan for an
exhibition. Events led to it being the Musée Historique in Lyon which
turned the plan into reality and presented this exhibition of textiles
and works of art from the National History Museum of Armenia and the
Treasury of the Holy See of Edjmiadsin. Much credit is due to
Maria-Anne Privat-Savigny, chief curator of the Musée des Arts
Décoratifs de Lyon, who gave the go-ahead for the project to take
place during the Year of Armenia.

This exhibition is divided into two exhibitions in two locations. The
first, major one is at the Musée des Tissus de Lyon, presenting altar
curtains, clothing and other textiles involved in the Armenian
liturgy. The other, more private exhibition is at the Musée de
Fourvière, presenting liturgical textiles such as embroidered mitres
or chasubles, and in particular works of gold and silver.

I would advise visitors to start at the Musée des Arts
Décoratifs(1). There they will be able to admire choir curtains,
altar curtains, altar frontals, chevet hangings, chasubles (churdjar,
shurjar), tunic collars, priests=80=99 albs (chabik, schabig), mitres
(khoyr, ghoygh), sacerdotal headdresses (saghavart, saravart), chalice
veils and other components of textile art associated with the Armenian
liturgy (cuffs, stoles, epigonations [konk’er] etc…). Then they
should visit the Musée de Fourvière, where the sight of the
Catholico’s chasuble from the Treasury of Edjmiadsin alone is worth
the journey (inv.628, cat.no.55).

It is the veracity, the authenticity of the works that first impressed
me about these exhibitions. The gold is real gold, the silks have a
sublime beauty, the materials overall are of prime excellence. The
quality of the work is of the highest standard. The hours spent in
embroidery, weaving and needlework were not stinted. Here one sees a
character trait of the Armenian spirit since the 17th and 18th
centuries, positioned in the culture of the true, the rich, the
concrete – the culture of gold and linen – and not in the culture of
appearances. These works of art testify and testified to the power and
wealth of those who donated or commissioned them. Moreover, everyone
gave depending on his ability to sacrifice his fortune, time or skill
to make or have made the most beautiful, most lavish and most
intelligent work.

Having lost their nation, Armenians concentrated a large part of their
efforts and energy on gifts to their churches, standard-bearers of
their identity. Gold and silk to demonstrate to all of you who I am,
gold and silk for the salvation of my soul, gold and silk for the
salvation of the Armenian community.

The second idea which struck me most concerning the creation of these
works is the culture of diversity and of the spirit of eclecticism
that they embody. On a technical level: the most sophisticated samite
techniques using gold thread and silk are echoed by the simplest of
technical methods: printing on fabric, the felting technique. The
omophorion (yemiporum, cat.ill.83), dated in the catalogue to the 19th
century but which I believe is in fact attributable to the 17th
century, a jewel of technical prowess (samite), all gold thread and
luxury, is countered by three choir curtains of painted cotton cloth
attributed to the painter Poghos Ter-Mosevov (Boghos Ter-Mo[v]sesov).

On an artistic level, the divergences are identical: one is
transported from figurative art to the cartoon strip, as in a painted
cotton choir curtain (cat.no.15, 3), or even to abstract art, as in an
altar cloth of reserve-printed cotton (cat.no.106).

There is diversity of materials, from gold thread to linen; diversity
of forms and formats, from the monumental to the very small; diversity
of types of sensibility. All these probably derive from the fact that
Armenians were scattered across the Middle East, the Far East and the
West, and all these influences are reflected. From a very early date
Armenians were trading between Amsterdam, Versailles, Marseille, Lyon,
Genoa, Venice, Constantinople, Smyrna, Caesarea, Tiflis, Tabriz,
Isfahan, Madras and Canton … Just as the Silk Route existed, so too
did the Armenian route. These two trading routes often intersected
and, for the Armenians, the major points of convergence were their
major religious centres: Constantinople, Edjmiadsin and Jerusalem. In
this respect, Armenian textile art was already an international art in
the 17th, 18th and19th centuries, reflecting a certain degree of
`globalisation’. It spoke of Jerusalem while passing from Versailles
to Madras.

The third idea I would like to address is the `deep’ function of the
Armenian textile arts. I am not talking about obvious primary
functions =80` collar, chasuble, hanging, curtains etc – but of their
deeper meaning, their absolute reason for existing.

The Armenian mass makes a maximum appeal to the five senses: hearing
=80` the incredible beauty of the musical liturgy of the Armenian
mass, half-canticle, half-opera; smell – the wafts of incense that
intoxicate your nostrils; sight – the luxuriance of silks, gold, the
colours associated with the scenography of the mass, inscribed in the
architecture; touch – invoked by the multiple feel of textiles,
materials, everything one can touch in a church, both by feeling it
with their own hands and through the touch of fellow worshippers; and
even taste, since in the Armenian Church almost everybody receives
communion by ingesting mazz (a form of unleavened bread).

The Armenian mass is a concentration of paradise on earth. This
testifies to a need for re-energisation in a hostile environment where
massacres succeeded wars, where earthquakes were associated with
genocide, where epidemics alternated with food shortages.

In order to soothe the Armenian soul, all these gold and silk
textiles, veritable reflections of divine light, could only captivate
and focus the attention. Religious clothing reflects an idealised
vision of the Armenian nation. Gold glitters from all sides,
captivating eye and spirit. These works – acting as a point of
fixation for the concentration required on the parishioners=80=99 part
and as a sort of textile therapy – had the power to cauterise the
grief of the Armenian people and contributed to the survival of the
group.

These textiles relate both the history of the Armenians and that of
Europeans and Asians. The Last Supper (inv.no.E-1986, cat.no.10),
which includes figures wearing Dutch shoes and a typically Dutch
copper lustrum, tells us as much about Dutch life in the 18th century
as Armenian life. A choir curtain witha Crucifixion scene (inv.no.229,
cat.no.16) reveals as much about Georgian as Armenian art. Another
curtain whose subject is the Allegorical Baptism of Christ
(inv.no.E-1985, cat.no.12, above), brings together influences from
Mughal, Rhenish-Basle and Irano-Zoroastrian art in elements such as
the Wildman andthe treatment of the sun and moon.

Such influences, brought together, in no way stop me personally from
feeling I am facing a work of Armenian art. This testifies to the
formidable capacity of Armenians to adapt to others, to love and
understand them, without forgetting their Armenian specificity. The
important thing is not to fear other people and to remain onself.

This is a major exhibition. Without any doubt it marks the beginning
of a series of exhibitions on textiles `swallowed up’ during
thecommunist years, both in Armenia and in some of the 14 other
republics of the former Soviet bloc. One can start dreaming about
seeing textile masterpieces from Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine
… and indeed Russia. Curators of textile departments, fans of
textile art, textile collectors, go and see it; it concerns you. There
is no doubt that Armenians were active figures in textile creation in
the Middle East and in Asia, and this exhibition is a dazzling
demonstration ofthis. But in addition, for all those who feel
themselves to be men and women of goodwill and who have had to suffer
oppression, sorrow, it represents a marvellous hymn to life and to
survival through the medium of the visual arts, and more particularly
the textile arts.

The general organisers of the exhibition are Maria-Anne
Privat-Savigny, assisted by Claire Clergue (Musée des Arts
Décoratifs), and Bernard Berthod (Musée de Fourvière). Technical
analyses were carried out skilfully by Marie-Hélène Guelton. The
restoration workshop at the Musée des Tissus de Lyon is directed by
Marie Schoefer and Denise Cotta.

Or et Trésors d’Arménie (Gold and Treasures from Armenia)
Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs de Lyon
34, rue de la Charité
69002 Lyon
Musée de Fourvière
8 place de Fourvière
69005 Lyon
22 March – 15 July 2007

In collaboration with Cultures-France, the National History Museum of
Armenia and the Holy See of Edjmiadsin.

ARMENIAN RAMKAVAR AZATAKAN PARTY URGES ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY TO FILE A NOTE OF PROTEST TO CE IN CONNECTION WITH CE SECRETARY GENERAL’S STATEMENTS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2007-06-28 15:39:00

The Armenian Ramkavar Azatakan Party appeals to the Armenian Foreign
Minister and parliamentary factions to organize open hearings on
further development of the Karabakh problem, Harutyun Arakelyan, Leader
of the Ramkavar Azatakan Party, said at a press-conference, Thursday.

The fact that the Armenian authorities take CE Secretary General Terry
Davis’ insulting statement easy is ridiculous, H.Arakelyan pointed out.

"Terry Davis made an open statement that according to the law,
Karabakh is not a part of Armenia. What law?" H.Arakelyan asks. He
is also indignant at the fact the T.Davis compels Armenians to do
what Turkey dictates from Europe’s lips. He emphasized that T.Davis
exceeds authority and serves the British government which has been
conducting anti-Armenian policy for many years. On this occasion,
Ramkavar Azatakan also appeals to Armenian Foreign Ministry Vardan
Oskanyan to file a note of protest to the Council of Europe.

Addressing parliamentary factions, H.Arakelyan noted that if someone
dared to insult some deputy’s lover, they will rush to help, but if
a whole nation is insulted, they keep silence.

To note, in his interview with , T.Davis noted the other day that
Karabakh is not a part of Armenia. Later, during a press-conference
on the forthcoming presidential election in Nagorno-Karabakh, T.Davis
said that Karabakh is not a separate country and the presidential
election will have no impact on the conflict settlement.

NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SENT A NOTE TO OSCÐ~U CO-ORDINATOR

KarabakhOpen
28-06-2007 00:36:23

On June 27, 2007 the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to
Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Bernard
Snoy expressing regret that the practical recommendation presented in
the report of the OSCE-led Environmental Assessment Mission to fire
affected territories along the contact line, prepared as a result
of the 10-day monitoring (October, 2006) had not been realised. The
Ministry considers that implementation of the recommendations on
rehabilitation of the affected territories and counteraction to any
detrimental impacts of the fires in future, undoubtedly, would allow
transforming fire prevention and suppression into an opportunity of
regional cooperation, confidence building measures and ultimately
reconciliation.

The Ministry informed Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental
Activities that since the third decade of May 2007, fires from
Azerbaijani side along the contact line have been occurring. The fires
acquire systematic character and the Azerbaijani side again is trying
to use them for propaganda.

The Ministry called upon the Office of Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic
and Environmental Activities to take a principled and consistent
position in realisation of the OSCE Mission’s recommendations. This
will allow achieving the goals set in the report and creating an
efficient mechanism for fire prevention and suppression along the
line of contact, which may become one of elements of the confidence
building measures.

–Boundary_(ID_cTZMr7VIU9BEmzwZ/SA7LQ)- –

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS INFLUENCED BY AZERI PROPAGANDA IN NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE, LEADER OF CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATIC UNION SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 27 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Khosrov Haroutiunian, the Chairman of
the Christian-Democratic Union, stated at the June 27 discussion at
the Hayeli (Mirror) club that "preservation of the status quo in the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very beneficial for us." At
the same time, he expressed anxiety that the international community
is influenced by the Azeri propaganda in the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

K. Haroutiunian also expressed anxiety that neighboring Azerbaijan
constantly violates quotas determined by the Agreement on Conventional
Armaments in Europe. However, in his words, none of Armenia’s leaders
has ever tried to draw international community’s attention to that
circumstance.

In the opinion of Alexander Iskandarian, the Director of the Caucasian
Media Institute, "indeed the arms race works on conservation of the
conflict and strengthening of stability in the region."

He mentioned that the propaganda carried on by states having undergone
territorial changes enjoys great support at such international forums
as the UN and the OSCE. In his words, international practice has
rather many examples of how non-recognized states can exist for many
decades. Among such states he named Taiwan, Kashmir, and the Republic
of North Cyprus.

LEVON GULYAN WAS KILLED: CHAIRMAN OF HELSINKI ASSOCIATION OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2007-06-26 21:53:00

Witness in murder case Levon Gulyan was killed, the chairman of the
Helsinki Association of Armenia Mikayel Daniyelyan.

The pictures of Gulyan’s body show that he was tortured during an
interrogation in the police building and thrown out of the second-floor
window. "I have never seen such a disfigured body," says the expert
of HAA Ruben Martirossyan.

Meanwhile, there is some strange timing problem here: the police
say that Gulyan tried to run away during an interrogation at 3:20 PM
while the signal about his death was received at 2:30 PM.

The relatives of Gulyan insist that he was killed, while forensic
experts say that Gulyan was not beaten and received injuries while
falling from the window. European experts have confirmed their
opinion. The relatives doubt their impartiality. They say that the
Europeans have refused to meet with them.

NEW-BORN INFANT KILLED

A1+
[07:15 pm] 25 June, 2007

A. Adamyan (b. in 1990), a citizen of Yerevan, was taken to "Grigor
Narekatsi" Medical Centre June 18 with uterine bleeding.

The investigation revealed that Adamyan had killed her child just after
delivery June 17 and had hidden the body in a bedroom wardrobe. The
police found a body of an infant wrapped up in polyethylene bag in
the wardrobe.

An action was brought under Article 106 of the RA Penal Code.

The investigation is underway.

JOBS TRUMP ENVIRONMENT AS ARMENIA OPENS GIANT COPPER MINE
by Mariam Harutunian

Agence France Presse — English
June 24, 2007 Sunday 3:14 AM GMT

Decried by activists as devastating for the environment, plans for an
enormous copper mine near this mountain village in northern Armenia
are nonetheless welcomed by local residents eager for jobs and escape
from poverty.

The Teghut copper-molybdenum deposit, located in the Lori region near
this ex-Soviet country’s border with Georgia, was banned from being
developed in the 1970s out of fear for the local environment.

But with copper prices soaring on international markets, Armenia’s
government recently approved plans to begin mining the deposit within
the next three years.

The move sparked an outcry among environmentalists, who say open-pit
operations at the mine will wreak havoc on the environment, wiping out
swathes of virgin forest and decimating the local animal population.

But for those who live nearby, the prospect of saving their community
from slow decline is pushing environmental concerns aside.

"My heart aches for our nature, but it aches more when I look at
the conditions people live in. If new jobs aren’t created here then
within five years our villages will be devastated, there will be only
old men," Teghut resident Gagik Gasparian said.

As in the rest of Armenia, thousands of local residents have left
this region in recent years to look for jobs elsewhere, some in the
capital Yerevan, others in Russia.

Armenia’s economy is suffering under an economic embargo imposed by
neighbouring Azerbaijan and Turkey over the country’s support for
ethnic Armenian separatists in the Azerbaijani region of Nagorny
Karabakh.

Unemployment is high and more than 30 percent of Armenia’s three
million people live on less than two dollars (1.50 euros) a day.

The company opening the mine, Armenian Copper Program (ACP), headed
by Russian-Armenian businessman Valery Medzhlumian, is promising
1,400 much-needed new jobs in the region. ACP also hopes the mine
will contribute an extra three percent a year to the national economy.

The Teghut mine is estimated to contain 1.6 million tonnes of copper,
which is widely used in plumbing and electrical wiring, and 99,000
tonnes of molybdenum, a silvery white element used in alloys to
strengthen steel.

ACP was granted a 25-year license to exploit the mine in 2001 and
Armenia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection approved its development
plans earlier this year.

Approval was given despite the company’s intention to operate the
mine as an open pit, which involves removing the entire upper layer
of earth instead of the far more expensive method of digging tunnels
to reach ore.

Machinery will be used to smash through swathes of forests and
environmentalists claim that 357 hectares of rich forest will be lost,
including 128,000 trees.

"The ecological balance of the district will be broken," said Srbuhi
Harutunian, the director of the Social-Environmental Association,
a non-governmental organization.

According to environmental groups, dozens of plant and animal species
will be under threat from the mine’s operations, including 21 mammal,
11 fish and nine plant species that have been declared endangered.

"There will also be huge damage to the health of local residents.

They can suffer from allergies and pulmonary diseases because of the
enormous quantities of dust produced," Harutunian said.

Activists also worry that architectural monuments in the region dating
as far back as the Bronze Age, and also including early stone crosses
and churches, could be damaged or destroyed.

The government insists everything will be done to minimize the mine’s
impact on the environment.

"All the questions of ecologists have been answered in the company’s
project through a series of actions that will reduce the damage to
the environment, including large-scale works to restore tracts of
forest," said Ashot Santrosian, the head of the environment ministry
department that approved the project.

ACP director Gagik Azrumanian admitted the mine would cause serious
damage to the environment, but described that as "a price that is
necessary to pay for the economic development of the country."

"We understand that an unprecedented number of trees will be cut
down," he said. "But this is necessary and people have to understand
that there is no economic development, no such economic programme,
that would not have a negative influence on the environment."

Environmentalists argue the price is too high and say the government
should look instead at promoting the region as a tourist destination.

The Lori region is already home to large chemical plants and an
enormous smelter doing significant damage to local forests and water
sources, said Mger Sharoian, a spokesman for the Armenian Forests NGO.

"The development of the Teghut deposit will only aggravate the
situation," he said. "We suggest developing eco-tourism in Lori,
which has all the natural conditions — virgin woods, pure springs,
rivers, clean air and architectural monuments," he said.

Armenia has recently stepped up efforts to promote tourism, but the
prospect of tourists flocking to its mountain landscapes is still a
far off dream. For the people of Teghut, the copper mine is offering
jobs and economic development now.

"We hope that when the mine starts operating, when the jobs arrive,
our people will finally return to our village," Teghut Mayor Arutiun
Meliksetian said.