nuclear-news

ARMENIA: CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS URANIUM MINE EURASIANET.org Marianna Grigoryan 12/01/09 A protest movement against a planned Russian-Armenian uranium mine in southern Armenia appears to be picking up steam, with discussions underway with three political parties about a partnership………………..local residents, including inhabitants of the nearby regional capital, Kapan, and the mining town of Kajaran fear the consequences. Expressing concern about chances for a spike in cancer rates and genetic mutations once uranium mining starts, the head of the Greens’ Union of Armenia, Hakob Sanasarian, called the project “a disaster for both the local and the national population.”

The director of a local Karabakh War veterans’ rights group agreed. “If they start mining uranium, we will fight using all possible methods,” Khoren Harutiunian declared. “We will even block the roads.”

Discussions are being held with three prominent political parties about an alliance to block the mine, Harutiunian said………..The anti-mine movement also plans to start a letter-writing campaign to government officials this week; some 2,000 Kapan residents have already joined the protest, they claim……….. Pledged activist Haroutiunian: “We will fight till the end.”

EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight – Armenia: Controversy Surrounds Uranium Mine