Heritage MPs challenge to Armenian government concerning Kajaran village issue.

Dec. 16, Styepa Safaryan, Head of the Heritage parliamentary group, and the group member Anahit Bakhshyan addressed questions to the Armenian prime minister and government.

The questions concern the Armenian government's decision made this spring. Under the decision, lands that are owned by the Kajaran village community are to be allotted to the Zangezur copper and molybdenum combine. The MPs also addressed questions concerning the recent pressure on the head of the village community, as well as problems of Armenia's mining industry.

In her letter to Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Anahit Baskhyan informs the premier that the Kajaran residents strongly object to the Armenian government's decision. They believe that it is tantamount to razing the village to the ground.

According to the RA Law on Mineral Resources, Armenia's mineral resources are public property, and the village community, as well as its head, objects to the decision. The head of the village community was reportedly forced into resigning. He left the ruling party in protest.

The authorities are trying to silence the people by pressuring the head of the village community. All this is on the threshold of the ruling party's joining the European People's Party (EPP) as an observer member. However, the Armenian president and premier promised the EPP to ensure conditions for democracy and consideration of public opinion in the country.

"Did not you have this commitment this spring, when you made that decision?" Bakhshyan asks in her letter.

In his letter addressed to Armenian Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan, Mr. Safaryan asks for information on the area of licensed mines in Armenia.

In his letter to Chairman of the RA State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan asks for the following information: the Zangezur copper and molybdenum combine's financial statements for 2004 through 2010; financial statements for 2004 through 2010 by the GeoProMining Gold company.