Civil society representatives’ Open Letter to the World Bank
On June 21, 2014 the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia (RA) adopted RA Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise (EIA law) by holding three readings throughout the course of a single day (24-hour regime). Though a number of public organizations applied to the RA President requesting that he does not sign the law full of contradictions and flaws, and return it to the National Assembly, it was signed by RA President on July 23, 2014. The representatives of the working group that took part in the development of EIA draft law sent an open letter to the World Bank, stating that it was passed with fraud and was directed by private interests, contradicted the public interest to live in a healthy environment and because of some provisions was a serious regress from the law adopted in 1995. Considering that the hasty adoption of EIA bill was conditioned by the eagerness to meet requirements of the World Bank, and an expectation to receive the loan, they applied to the World Bank and requested its support to the Armenian public and reconsideration of its position in respect with allocation of the budget support loan until Armenia meet its international commitments and guarantees respective grounds for a balanced approach in economic development, protection of the environment and human health.
See the Open Letter.
