Hungary's president asks for Canadian help in preventing gold mine in Romania

Budapest, November 24 (MTI) - Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom on Monday asked Canadian Governor-General Michaelle Jean to prevent the opening by a Canadian company of an environmentally hazardous previous metals mine in Rosia Montana, W Romania.

The Canadian-Romanian Rosia Montana Gold Corporation plans to open Europe's largest open-pit precious metals mine, using an environmentally hazardous cyanide leaching technology to extract gold and silver from the surrounding substrate.

The project has triggered vehement protests from Hungarians, who keenly remember that another Romanian gold mine using a similar technology near Baia Mare in NW Romania caused an environmental disaster, wiping out wildlife along Hungary's eastern waterways in 2000.

"I have asked Canada to help prevent mining-related risks in the catchment area of the Tisza river," Solyom said, adding that a bad approach by some Canadian companies could tarnish Canada's good reputation.

ENDS.