Armenian president and ecology minister discuss Lake Sevan, environment

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
26 May 04

[Presenter] President Robert Kocharyan held a working meeting today
with Ecology Minister Vardan Ayvazyan where they discussed protection
of Lake Sevan, forests and other environmental issues. The ecology
minister assured the head of state that the efforts directed to the
restoration of the green areas all over the republic will be felt
this year.

[Correspondent] During the discussion of the environmental issues with
the president, Ecology Minister Vardan Ayvazyan outlined the issue
of Lake Sevan. Already in 1998, President Robert Kocharyan urged to
stop the use of Lake Sevan’s water for energetic aims. As a result of
some years’ works, the water level in Lake Sevan has risen by 98cm,
which means that now the lake contains 1.18bn cu.m. more water. The
minister announced that now they are concerned about the rising water
level in Sevan. The Ecology Ministry is implementing the programmes
on protection of the ecosystem of Lake Sevan and development of the
surrounding environment, with the assistance of the international
organizations.

[Armenian Ecology Minister, Vardan Ayvazyan, captioned] We discussed
the issues connected with the protection of the ecological system of
Lake Sevan, and especially the Ecology Ministry, which is implementing
an 8m-dollar programme in the area of Lake Sevan. We are trying
to implement various programmes in the villages too, starting with
protection and restoration of the green areas and development and
implementation of small businesses.

[Correspondent over video of Lake Sevan] The president focused
attention on the issues of building a National Park around Lake
Sevan. The forests’ issues are also always in the president’s centre
of attention. The minister assured him that cultivation of 360,000
hectare of forests in Gegargunik and Tavush Regions will yield a
positive result.

The president also stressed the importance of adopting a law on
ecology, which according to the ecology minister it is already
ready. The government will submit it to parliament for discussion soon.

Lilit Setrakyan, “Aylur”.