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ARMENIAN COPPER PROGRAM WANTS HUGE PROFITS

Politics

“International organizations in Armenia are not after profit, rather huge profits”, told “A1+” today economist Tatul Manaseryan. According to Manaseryan, even the international crisis does not stop those organizations from getting their profit.

“If we follow-up on the trends of world copper prices when 1 ton of copper ranged from 4,500-4,600 dollars, in the contract of the ACP, proceeds started from 3,000 dollars. Just a week ago when a ton of copper cost 8,000 dollars, they received huge sums of money. Today, ACP doesn’t want to overload, but wants huge profits. ACP has announced that the international financial crisis is due to the reduction of mine resources, world prices for useful metal fossils and the programs of the ACP will depend on the international copper prices.”

In contrast to Manaseryan, head of ACP Gagik Arzumanyan declared today that it will be impossible to carry out any activities in the Alaverdi pit even if one ton of copper costs 8,500 dollars.

“Metallurgical production has never really been profitable and we have always said that starting from 2009, perspectives for copper production are very uncertain,” said Arzumanyan referring to the fixed payments for export, rise in natural gas prices, etc.

As a result, 700 ACP workers are on the verge of unemployment and they found out about that on November 1 with the notice for prolonging their work contracts for 21 days and firing them on November 22.

“There will not be any change in international copper prices before November 22. People will be fired and they will know beforehand,” said Arzumanyan. Economist Tatul Manaseryan is more concerned about the damages caused to Armenia’s economy because of ACP.

“It has been estimated that Armenia must receive nearly 50 million dollars worth of tax incomes every year. The damages of ACP make up nearly 130 million dollars. It is underestimated due to the fact that they are cutting down forests and value trees 2-3 times cheaper than they really are. Imagine, three rivers disappear and they estimate 175,000 drams for the price of each river. I am willing to pay the money out of my pocket for them to donate rivers to Armenia. They haven’t even estimated the price for drinking water.”

In the case of estimating 175,000 drams for the elimination of the rivers and 3 drams for one square meter of land, Mr. Manaseryan believes that it is immoral to expect huge profits. Taking advantage of the occasion, “A1+” asked Manaseryan to express his views on the actions perpetrated by the authorities against “Bjni” Mineral Water Company.

“If “Bjni” really had issues, the corresponding bodies had to present them more transparently and not take drastic measures. They say that the company damages the environment, they talk about the meters installed by the Environmental Protection Ministry and that “Bjni” has nothing to do with it. They talk about taxes, but they can do the same to other companies.”