Due to safety issues in the open part of the Sotk mine, the works have been stopped; the mine is partially working, Gegharkunik Marz Governor Karen Sargsyan said in a briefing with journalists in the National Assembly.
“The residents of the border settlements near us are engaged in agricultural work; they live their normal life. The intensity of the shooting has decreased. The work in the open part of the Sotk mine was supposed to be stopped in the coming months, but the work was stopped due to the recent security problems. But the work in the closed mine continues,” he said. The governor mentioned that some employees have gone on forced leave, but he does not know their exact number yet. Discussions are going on; they will solve the employment issues of these people, and they will meet with them soon.
Gegharkunik Marz Governor Karen Sargsyan
According to the governor, they should have monitored to find out whether there was emigration from the region. “But it is unlikely that they left because of those problems. We have families that left their settlements after the September 2022 aggression, several families did not return, but the main part returned and lived in their settlements,” he said. Karen Sargsyan added that 2022 compensation was provided to the residents who suffered damages due to the aggression. There will be financial allocations for restoring houses not subject to repair.
The residents who lost their livestock were also almost fully compensated. “Fortunately for all of us, our Armed Forces were able to give a very decent counterattack. I am sure the Azerbaijanis will go back one day, regardless of their engineering and fortification works. I cannot say when that day will be, but surely Armenia will be impregnable with its borders,” he said.
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Roza HOVHANNISYAN
