NEW PUBLIC CENTERS ON NATURE PROTECTION INFORMATION TO FUNCTION SOON IN GYUMRI, HRAZDAN AND GAVAR

Noyan Tapan
May 17 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A memorandum on mutual understanding was
sined on May 16 among the representatives of the OSCE Yerevan Office,
RA Ministry of Nature Protection and Governor’s Offices of Kotayk,
Shirak and Gegharkunik. According to this memorandum, new public
centers on nature protection information (Aarhus) will open in Gyumri,
Hrazdan and Gavar. To recap, centers of the mentioned organization
function in the cities of Yerevan, Varadzor, Goris, Kapan, Dilijan,
Ijevan still since 2002.

The goal of activity of the Aarhus centers is to stimulate
accessibility of the nature protection information, public
participation in the nature protection issues and accessibility of
justice. The society will be given at the centers free consultation
concerning their rights, obligations and corresponding legislation.

RA Minister of Nature Protection Vardan Ayvazian attached importance to
the initiative of opening centers, mentioning that "according to the
Aarhus programs, great attention will be paid to problems of nature
protection security as well, particularly, decomposition of lands,
saltation and water resources." Head of the OSCE Yerevan Office,
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin mentioned: "Armenia is now the leader
of the Aarhus movement quickly developing in the OSCE territory."

The triglot (Armenian, English, Russian) web site of the
Aarhus centers was also opened during the event. Its address is