On November 18th, at the Alaverdi Cultural Palace, Mr. Valery Mejlumyan, owner of the Armenian Copper Programme (ACP), met with workers who have been staging protest actions over pending job cuts at the firms Alaverdi mine and plant. According to the ACP owner the protest actions were the work of local “political instigators” whom he failed to name. He also initially barred reporters, other than the local Alaverdi “Ankyun +3” TV station, of which he owns 50%, from entering the packed meeting hall.Mr. Mejlumyan finally allowed all reporters present inside so that, in his words, they wouldn’t exploit the situation later on. He told workers that while the company had no wish to lay off people the current crisis in world metal markets forced them to make certain changes, adding that the current situation had nothing to do with state or local authorities or with company management. The ACP owner lamented the fact that 75 employees had already been let go but promised that jobs would open up for them at the mine in Drmbon and that the Alaverdi Municipality would help them in a job search.