At 7 p.m., it became clear to the environmentalists and journalists gathered outside the main entrance of Matenadaran that Charles, the Prince of Wales, entered through the back door, not through the main entrance, as it had been expected before his arrival. Hearing about that, the environmentalists decided to split into two groups at the main entrance of Matenadaran: one group went toward the road leading to Saralanj; the other group stayed at the main entrance. Argishti Kiviryan, who stayed with the environmentalists at the main entrance, said: “If the Prince of Great Britain comes to Armenia and tries to creep through the back door instead of entering through the main entrance, if he has chosen that option, shame on him!
“It means that this demonstration has achieved its task. While he is inside, we intend to continue our demonstration. Then let him leave through the back door again as he has entered, not through the main entrance.” Meanwhile Jonathan Aves, the UK Ambassador to Armenia, met with environmentalists and promised them to pass the letter addressed to the prince. “Thank you for the letter, I will surely pass the letter to the prince. I think that the prince will be very happy to meet with you and talk with you about that. We should keep in touch so that we organize all that.” The British Ambassador to Armenia also stated that former Prime Minister Armen Sargsyan was also willing to meet with environmentalists. Let us remind that the protest of environmentalists outside Matenadaran aimed at drawing the prince’s attention to the issue of the exploitation of the Amulsar Gold Mine by British Lydian International Ltd.
Ashot ATAYAN
