Cei care doresc sa cunoasca raportul informativ pe care dl. Mr Eddie O'Hara, Marea Britanie, Grupul Socialist, Comitetul pentru Cultura, Stiinta si Educatie, raportor general privind patrimoniul cultural l-a elaborat sunt invitati sa viziteze pentru: Versiunea engleza: http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/Work ingDocs/Doc04/EDOC10384.htm Versiunea franceza: http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/Work ingDocs/Doc04/FDOC10384.htm
Mariana NITELEA Director Information Office of the Council of Europe 6, Alexandru Donici Street, Bucharest 2, 020478 Romania tel: 4021 211 6810, fax: 4021 211 9997 Internet: www.coe.ro -----Original Message----- From: Vali [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 3:10 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [romania_eu_list] Rosia Montana mine critics hurt community Se pare ca Adunarea Parlamentara a Consiliului Europei sustine, intr-un raport al comisiei de cultura, proiectul Rosia Montana, aratand ca acesta nu ameninta mostenirea culturala a comunitatii locale si a Romaniei. Vali ----------------- Rosia Montana mine critics hurt community By: Dorothy Kosich Posted: '04-FEB-05 06:00' GMT C Mineweb 1997-2004 RENO--(Mineweb.com) A report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has backed the controversial Rosia Montana gold mine project as not being threatening to the cultural heritage of the local community and Romania. The authors of the document, General Rapporteur on Cultural Heritage Eddie O'Hara MP of the United Kingdom and Christopher Grayson, Head of Secretariat for Culture, Science & Education were particularly critical of the actions of outside NGOs and non-local residents against a mine they believe is desperately needed for the economic survival of the community. Annual gold production over the estimated 16-year life of the mine will average 533,000 ounces of gold per year and 1.85 million ounces of silver per year. Historic mining in the area can be traced back to 105 AD prior to occupation by the Roman Empire. During the past 50 years a state-owned mining company has mined in the area of Rosia Montana. It is scheduled to cease operations next year. The two Parliamentary representatives stated that criticism by anti-mining NGOs that Rosia Montana would damage the cultural heritage of the area "does not appear to be entirely justified." In fact, the report asserted the RMGC project "would appear to provide an economic basis for sustainable development of the whole area with positive benefits on environmental and social as well as cultural grounds. From the cultural heritage point of view, it might be seen as an exemplary project of responsible development." "The funds currently made available by RMGC for research (archaeological, ethnological, architectural) are many times what could be expected from the Government," said the authors. "This present situation of indecision is not at all helpful for the area," the authors scolded. "Failure to confirm the RMGC project would remove any chance of local development for quite some time." While the delegation conceded that the "opposition to the RMGC project is substantial. It is not altogether easy to explain. ...It is very much fuelled by outside bodies, presumably well-meaning but possibly counter-productively. It seems in part at least exaggerated. The supposed environmental risks do not take account of modern mining techniques and in fact the RMGC project will have to clear up existing pollution caused by Minvest. The academic arguments are possibly correct in principle but appear excessively fundamentalist." O'Hara and Grayson said these fundamental principles "have to be balanced with practical realities. Research does not necessarily imply the need for everything found to be preserved and the academic ideal of total in situ preservation is perhaps not always and altogether appropriate in a situation of rescue archeology and a commercial world." The men claimed that the "keys words for the sustainable development of Rosia Montana are opportunity for all, flexibility and trust." "A balance of benefit appears achievable to both the needs of the cultural heritage of Rosia Montana and the business of RMGC (Rosia Montana Gold Corporation). If that balance is overturned by the demands of either the Government or the company the project may not go head," the report noted. "In that case there will be a considerable setback to the opportunity for the development of cultural tourism in this area of exceptional history interest [Transylvania.]" The Rosia Montana Gold Corporation funded a series of archaeological investigations at the site. These have been conducted by the National Museum of History of Romania in association with a number of archaeological institutions from Romania and abroad. The company spent $4.5 million on archaeology between 2001 and 2003, more than the total Romanian national budget for archeology between 1990-2003, according to the report. As a result of these programs, the Romanian Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs has granted archaeological discharge certificates for major areas of the site. The Romanian Minister of Culture awarded the company a honor for excellence in the archaeological programs conducted on the site during 2001. A national research program, the Alburnus Maior National Archeological Research Program, was entirely funded by RMGC. It employed 110 specialists including archaeologists, ethnologists, historians, restorers, anthropologists and geologists. The mine will make changes to the local landscape, and relocate part of the village of Rosia Montana. The village was founded in 131 BC and now has 4,000 residents. A poll taken of these families in the year 2000 found 86-88% were in favor of the proposed investment and relocation. Of the 4,000 residents, 1,600 may face relocation of their homes. It is estimated that 30% of these people have been negotiating with the mining company. The old village centre is to be preserved with an open air museum and artifacts. During the Roman era, Rosia Montana was known as Alburnus Maior. Among the archeological sites of concern are tunnels constructed into the mountains by Roman engineers and soldiers. A Roman circular mausoleum ins in the nearby Gauri area. A new road is to be constructed for tourist access for a 10 hectare archaeological park containing the site. A new museum is planned for Rosia Montana will be dedicated to Roman archaeology, ethnography and mining in the Apuseni Mountains. The Parliamentary Assembly delegation also met with NGOs in the area. Witnesses and experts testified that Romania had more to lose than gain from the mining project. State authorities were criticized for favoring the interests of a foreign company over the protests of local conservationists. the NGO Alburnus Major presented a petition with 287 signatures requesting that all movable archaeological material remain in Rosia Montana and all immovable remains be preserved in situ. The General Rapporteur ruled speakers from outside the community out of order. He also called for a show of hands during the meeting which showed those from Rosia Montana were a clear majority. Of these locals, 75% were in favor of the mining project. RMGC submitted its project presentation report to Romanian authorities last month. It is the start of the environmental permitting process and describes the proposed mine so that its impacts may be assessed. An Environmental Impact Assessment will assess possible impacts and their mitigation. C Mineweb, a division of Moneyweb Holdings Limited, 1997-2004 http://www.mineweb.net/sections/sustainable_mining/410603.htm EuroAtlantic Club: http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/ *** Birou de traduceri autorizate. Oana Gheorghiu - tel/fax: 252.8681 / [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. 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