GERMANY ALLOCATES 2.2 MLN EUR TO ARMENIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT
“BIO-DIVERSITY AND NATURE PROTECTION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION”
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9. ARMINFO. German Govenrment has approved 2.2 mln
EUR to Armenia for implementation of a program “Bio-diversity in the
South-West of Armenia” and “Protection of bio-diversity in Javakheti
through transboundary cooperation.”
A relevant agreement was signed today by Ministry of Nature Protection
of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan and Representative of German KfW bank in
Armenia Karapet Gevorgyan. The programs are designed for 30-50 years
under a regional project “Protection of bio-diversity and nature in
the South Caucasus region.” Minister Aycazyan said the programs aim
prevention of conflict situations at transboundary Armenian-Georgian
territories and planning of joint measures on protection of
environment in Javakhk plateau. Under the projects, a National Park
Arpi will be developed which will embrace Lake Arpi with its drained
basin, brooks and water reservoirs near the villages of Ardenis,
Akhuryan, and those near Stepanavan-Tashir highway. The park will
occupy a territory of 74 ha and will be divided into three protected
zones: reserved territories, on protection of ecological system and on
stable development of the park’s territories.
The territory of the park Arpi is bordering Georgia and Turkey and
located not far from large populated areas in Armenia. Local residents
having mass social and economic problems will be attracted to
implementation of the project of National Park. Some 70 jobs will be
opened for local residents there, the minister said. Under the
projects, scientific research will be carried out for possible
creation of reserved territories in waterlogged areas to protect
water- marsh flora and fauna.
KfW Representative said the regional program was provided to the
Georgian an Azerbaijani parties as well, however Azerbaijan has not
considered it so far; and in Georgia the government has recently
approved the project “Protection of bio-diversity and nature in the
South Caucasus region.” Factually, implementation of the given
ecological program for the South Caucasus has started in Armenia,
Gevorgyan said. He added that one of the most important details of the
project is solution to social problems of the population in bordering
regions, taking into account the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. “Each time when CE member-states propose joint programs to
the South Caucasian three, political motives hinder their
implementation. However, the given program is necessary as nature has
no borders and it must be protected without any political conditional
characters,” Gevorgyan said. The project office will be in Tbilisi for
three years then the head office will be moved to the country that
will show the most successful and effective implementation of the
project. 0.3 mln EUR is allocated to each country for project
coordination under control of KfW.
It should be noted that since 1993 the German Government has allocated
Armenia some 127 mln EUR through the German bank KfW under various
programs in the sphere of energy, finances, water supply and
ecology. 100 mln EUR of the above sum were credits and the remaining
were grants.