Our mining industry must work with international standards. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during the YES campaign—in the forthcoming referendum on constitutional amendments—in Kajaran town.

He said that during a meeting with the German owners of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine, he suggested to gradually transition to conditions that are similar to those of a mine operating in Germany.

"I have said that by saying 'German standard,' I not only mean the mining industry’s environmental, production cycle, safety issues, but also the protection of workers' rights," the PM added. “A person working in the mining industry in the Republic of Armenia should be as protected by his rights as a German citizen is protected.

And third, I have said that we will have a very serious problem if I ever find out that the administration of the plant is impeding the free expression of will of the combine’s workers for any political purpose; we will have a very serious problem with each other."