FILM ABOUT LAKE SEVAN BY ARMENIAN JOURNALIST TO BE DEMONSTRATED AT ECO- JOURNALISM CONTEST IN SLOVAKIA

Yerevan, April 18. ArmInfo. A documentary film by Armenian journalist-
ecologist Inga Zarafyan on the problems of Lake Sevan “Threads of
Hope” will be demonstrated in Slovakia at the International Contest
of Ecological Journalism of Banska Bystrica.

Inga Zarafyan, who is also Chairwoman of the public organization
“Ecolur,” told journalists at the film’s presentation, Tuesday.

She says the film passed the first selection round and will be
demonstrated at the contest to be held on May 2-7 2006. The film
reflects the real problems of Lake Sevan, where the measures on
raising water level resulted in the problem of waterlogging. The film
presents the plan of acts by the Armenian Government on prevention of
eutrophication of the lake and restoration of the water level. The
film shows the disastrous consequences of uncontrolled fishing. It
presents the surveys by ichthyologists working on the Russian vessel
“Gydrolog.” The scenario emphasizes the coastal hotels and motels
which ignore the threat of being flooded despite the warning of the
authorities about water raising measures.

To recap, in 1998 Armenian Nature Ministry proposed cutting water
pumping and elaborating a strategy on restoration of the ecological
state of Lake Sevan. In 2001, the Parliament adopted the Law On Sevan
saying that all the measures and acts connected with the lake were
to base on a complex program of raising Lake Sevan level by 6 meters.

Armenia Tree Project public organization, Armenian Forests public
organization and WWF rendered the financial assistance to the creative
staff of Vem Media Arts studio and scenarist Inga Zarafyan.