HEAD OF GARNI COMMUNITY DESTROYS “SYMPHONY OF STONES”

YEREVAN, MAY 2. ARMINFO. Armenia loses an unique and picturesque
monument of its nature – “The symphony of stones” located close to the
1th century pagan temple of Garni in the gorge of Azat river. Some
local residents, with approval of rural administration were engaged
in truly vandalism, “felling” magnificent basalt broadstones created
by nature itself as building materials.

“Head of rural administration is responsible for any actions”, Chief
of territorial administration department of the Kotayk region Stepan
Ghazaryan stated ARMINFO. The same response was also received from
Armenian Ministry of nature protection. Ministry’s press-secretary
Artsrun Pepanyan informed that territory does not a nature-conservative
so “Ministry does not have a legal right to punish anybody”. It is
not known if government interferes in this deal, however, it is a
fact that vandals had already not left “a stone standing”.

As ARMINFO leaks out, basalt broadstones finished by nature within
hundreds of years became necessary for rural “businessmen” for
sale. These broadstones as perfect by their form that they will be
used in construction without any additional processing. According to
unspecified information, “legal” permission of cut off the stones
was given by the head of Garni’s rural community Ashot Vardanyan
himself. He refuses to answer on journalists’ phone calls.