Pashinyan: During a Skype conference with ELARD experts a number of  new circumstances were voiced that need to be investigated and  evaluated 

ArmInfo.During yesterday's Skype conference with experts of the consulting company Earth link & Advanced Resources Development (ELARD), which presented the expert  opinion on the Amulsar project, a number of new circumstances emerged  that needed to be investigated and evaluated. On August 30, Prime  Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced this on his Facebook  page.

"Yesterday's discussion also contained important information to  answer the question of whether the Amulsar gold mine project needs a  new EIA.

Let me recall, the Ministry of the Environment must give an opinion  before September 4.  Below, as I promised, yesterday's discussion is  fully presented, "the Prime Minister of Armenia wrote, posting a  video of the discussion held during a video conference with ELARD  experts.  To recall, on August 14, the Investigative Committee of  Armenia presented an expert opinion on the Amulsar project of the  consulting company Earthlink & Advanced Resources Development  (ELARD).  Based on the conclusion of the examination, the IC of  Armenia stated that there is no direct connection between the  underground waters located on the territory of the Amulsar project  and the thermal hot springs of Jermuk. There is also no connection  with the waters of the Sevan basin. Moreover, as indicated by the IC,  during an earthquake, a certain concentration of acid drainage can  penetrate into the basin of Lake Sevan through the Spandaryan and  Ketchut reservoirs. However, the combination of this concentration  will be insignificant on the scale of Lake Sevan. The third important  conclusion: the impact on the Arpa, Vorotan and Darb rivers can be  mitigated if Lydian Armenia takes 16 environmental mitigation  measures proposed by experts. As the head of the IC Hayk Grigoryan  pointed out, Lydian Armenia representatives have already expressed  their readiness to implement 15 of the proposed 16 events: they are  already carrying out 10 events, they will be ready to conduct another  5 in the near future. Residents of the resort town of Jermuk,  environmentalists and activists opposing the development of the mine  did not agree with the conclusions and protested and declared that  they intend to continue their struggle, "the community has mobilized  and does not intend to retreat and the struggle is entering a hot  phase." As a result, on August 23, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  visited Jermuk in order to find out the moods of the people regarding  the operation program of the Amulsar gold mine. Residents of the city  categorically told the prime minister : "Jermuk should remain a  resort city, Amulsar - without a mine." Many tourists and guests of  the city, in an interview with the prime minister, noted that they  had chosen the city precisely because of its spa and wellness  character, and if the mine is developed in the immediate proximity,  they are unlikely to visit Jermuk next time. Then, speaking on the  central square of the city, the prime minister said that a Skype  conference is planned with ELARD experts who will personally present  a conclusion on Amulsar. As Pashinyan noted, today, as well as last  year, the solution of the issue can be based on the balanced interest  of the Republic of Armenia. So, according to the Prime Minister, if  it turns out that the development of the field threatens pollution of  air, water and land of Jermuk and nearby settlements, then the  project will not be implemented. But, if the opposite is proved, then  this is a different situation, he noted.