President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov commented on Kumtor mine developments at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers today.
According to him, there were rumors that Kyrgyzstan would not be able to sell its gold. «So I said not to worry. There are many people who want to buy gold. Gold will never stay unsold. We continue mining. No one can stop us now. Centerra acknowledged that it would no longer interfere. The company is forced to announce the loss of control over the Kumtor mine. We are fighting vertical corruption at Kumtor. We are no longer afraid to file claims with international courts. We even started winning cases in international courts,» Sadyr Japarov said.
He added that Kyrgyzstan has one position in relation to Canadian investors: to fight to the end. «My statement at the Summit of World Leaders on Climate Improvement and Glacier Preservation in Glasgow means that the Kumtor mine will continue to serve Kyrgyzstan. Our ideas are supported by the world community,» Sadyr Japarov emphasized.
If we cannot resolve the issue through negotiations, we will file environmental claims against Centerra. There will be result!
Sadyr Japarov
The head of state recalled that, at the initiative of Kyrgyzstan, the UN declared 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development and this opportunity should be fully taken advantage of. This year Kyrgyzstan initiated a resolution on the protection of mountain glaciers at UNESCO. «Therefore, I want to spread the idea that the people of Manas the Magnanimous are the defenders of the glaciers,» Sadyr Japarov added.
The second round of negotiations over the gold mine was held in Bishkek yesterday.
