IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SWIM IN SEVAN "FREE OF CHARGE"

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[04:29 pm] 05 September, 2006

"Dilijan" national park will have 36600 hectares territory instead
of the former 28000 hectares. The Ministry of Environment intends
to hold discussions on the territorial enlargement with the Dilijan
community and a few rural communities. The new borders of the park
will be established after the discussion.

Vardan Aivazyan, Minister of Environment , assures that this project
implemented within the framework of SORFECO&ONF international program
will enhance eco-tourism in "Dilijan" and will give a chance to have
profit from other sources besides timber.

"Eco-tourism and agro-tourism are universally accepted in the world
practice. We have much work to do in the territory of the park. The
impassable roads will be cleaned. Cottages will be built in certain
places," announced the minister during his meeting with journalists
today.

Asked the question whether the development of eco-tourism in Dilijan
will be like that of Sevan (that’s to say whether there will be illegal
buildings and illegal levies), Mr Aivazyan said, "Nothing will be
built in the reserve area where no economic activity is permitted."

As for the 2000 – 3000 AMD taken from the visitors in Sevan, the
Minister of Environment Protection once more reminded the rights of
visitors, "They may take money only when they do any service. The law
on Sevan says that any person has the right step into water area. So
you are free to swim free of charge as much as you want."

Mr. Aivazyan claims that Dilijan will not suffer much because of the
program as international organizations having great experience in
this sphere are involved in the program.

In comparison with the minister, Ashot Davtyan, head of "Dilijan,"
is not yet sure what outcome the program might have on the national
park as they haven’t had such an experience so far.

We shall try not to harm nature but as this is our first experiment
we cannot anticipate positive results," says Mr. Davtyan.

"Dilijan" got the status of national park in 2002.

Before that, it was a reserve which implies the absence of economic
activity. Many rare trees such as beech, maple, have preserved in
that area.

The head of the park notes that today Dilijan is one of the
well-preserved forests in the country. "I don’t want to boast on this
score. It is determined by the fact that Dilijan has had gas since
1994 which made it possible to preserve the forest."