Armenia’s minister of nature protection approves of structural changes
in ministry

YEREVAN, May 23. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Nature Protection Aram
Harutyunyan has approved of the transfer of natural resources
management to the Ministry of Energy.

`Our job will become more effective now, as we should focus on
environment issues in the country, resource management,’ the Minister
said at a press conference.

By RA President Serge Sargsian’s May 18 decree, the Ministry of Energy
was renamed Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Together with the
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the Ministry of Nature
Protection formerly managed natural resources in Armenia.

Harutyunyan said resource usage and management is the job of the
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, while we the Ministry of
Nature Protection is to examine their activities.

He believes the changes will help the Ministry express freely its
opinion on resource management.

`On the one hand, we allow the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
to perform these duties, on the other hand, we assume control over the
whole process,’ the Minister said. According to Harutyunyan, both
duties should be performed separately. -0–