THE LEVEL OF LAKE SEVAN DOES NOT DEPEND ON ANYBODY’S WILL
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/10/2007

"We do not need fictive effusions of love to Lake Sevan. We have to
provide full usage of finance, received according to the agrrement,
avoiding corruption," said yesterday representative of "Heritage"
party Larisa Alaverdian during the parliamentary discussion of the
ratification of the agreement between the European Development Bank
and the Restoration and Development Ministry of Armenia.

During the discussion someone stated that the corruption had came from
the depth of the centuries, since the era of the Egyptian Pharaohs,
and shall exist through ages. Considering that this argument cannot
be taken for an excuse for corruption in Armenia, parliament deputy
Hakob Hakobian said that the problem of corruption must be considered
globally, and not in context of a single agreement.

However, the agreement between the Restoration and Development Ministry
and ADB was represented to the deputies with great enthusiasm.

Former Ecology Minister, at present parliament member Vardan Ayvazian
stated the insensibility of representing evidences of the importance of
the Lake Sevan, as its importance has become obvious and unquestionable
since the times of USSR. "The level of Lake Sevan does not depend
on anybody’s will. It is the requirement of the Law. We have a law
about Lake Sevan, which provides for all necessary measures to be
taken," he added. In 1998 no water was released from Sevan, and due
to that the water level rose by 6 meters and reached 1903,5 meters,
which is the lowest level, sufficient for the restoration of the
ecology system. The lowest level for capital construction has also
been determined. Nevertheless, as Mr. Ayvazian stated, a number of
buildings were constructed below the appointed level, and that kind
of constructions is illegal. He assured that water is released from
Sevan only in summer, for irrigation use. Vardan Ayvazian also stated
that none of the 19 water clearing stations does function at present,
which seriously affects the ecosystem of Lake Sevan. "Per year 1,300
billion cubic meters of water pours into Sevan, which is the largest
reservoir of drinking water in the region. Such portion of polluted
water collapses the self-rectification system of the lake. And this
is a very serious problem," said Ayvazian.

The aforementioned agreement is aimed at solving this problem. The
agreement provides for 7 million Euro credit and 6,2 million Euro
grant. The credit shall be transferred in two steps, at first
5 million, with 4,76% interest rate, and then 2 million, with
lower interest rate. The money is to be spent on restoration and
reconstruction of 5 water clearing/rectification stations in the
area of Lake Sevan. There is also a program of reconstruction of
the Arpha-Sevan canal, which will prolong its functioning for 50
more years.