The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website:
August 14, 2008
NCI Tackles the Sevan Issue
Yerevan–Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a public
hearing entitled "Restoration of the Ecosystem of Lake Sevan: A Temporary
Halt in the Restoration Process, or An Undesirable Finish Line?" The meeting
brought together government representatives, MPs, scholars, social and
political activists, NGO officials, analysts, and members of the press.
The roundtable was called to discuss the challenges facing Lake Sevan’s
bionetwork–and specifically with respect to the pumping out of the lake’s
water–and the National Assembly’s special session, to be held on August 19,
during which the members of the parliament will examine a law proposal on
making amendments to the law concerning the ecology of Lake Sevan. It is
worth to mention that in line with this draft proposal, the annual amount of
maximum water release, which previously was 240 million cubic meters, is
expected to increase and reach up to 360 million.
In his intervention, Mher Mkrtumian of the State Committee on Water Economy
reflected on the reasons behind the aforesaid governmental proposal.
According to the speaker, this decision was made in consideration of the
current drought and the deficit of irrigation water at the country’s
agricultural areas. He also pointed to the insufficient water level at Azat
and Aparan Reservoirs and of the Hrazdan River and all this, in Mkrtumian’s
view, calls for additional water release from Lake Sevan. He noted that 213
million cubic meters already have been pumped out from the lake so far and,
since the irrigation season is not over, additional water still is in need.
"And the release of up to 360 cubic meters of water in 2008 will not
jeopardize Lake Sevan and therefore the relevant concerns are baseless,"
Mkrtumian stated.
In her turn, Evelina Ghukasian of the Institute of Hydroecology and
Fishbreeding spoke about the key pressing issues of Lake Sevan that
challenge the lake’s entire ecosystem. Reflecting on the lack of atmospheric
precipitation and the climatic changes, which the government points to very
often, Ghukasian mentioned that these phenomena have an adverse affect both
on agriculture and Lake Sevan. She informed that the lake’s isolating layer,
which is situated at the bottom of the lake and enables the lake to clean
itself, is not restored until now and this is the basis for those scientific
calculations which show that the water level of Lake Sevan needs to be
increased by at least six meters. And in response to the government’s
approach that the irrigation needs must be met on the account of Lake Sevan,
Ghukasian remarked with regret that, "Lake Sevan has become a cheap water
resource which can be ‘spent,’ but without making other ‘payments.’ The lake
already is unstable and each new fluctuation, whether raising or reducing
its water level, can become crucial."
The next speaker, chairwoman Karine Danielian of the "Sustainable Human
Development" NGO and representative of the Armenian National Committee of
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), examined the mysterious
aspects of the restoration process of Lake Sevan’s ecosystem. She noted that
according to their most recent observations the Azat and Aparan Reservoirs
truly are not to their full capacity but, still, this picture is quite
different than what the government portrays. Danielian also gave statistical
data on the amount of atmospheric precipitation in 2008 and, according to
the speaker, these facts and figures are not too unusual in comparison with
the other unfavorable years. And considering this and other circumstances,
Danielian did not hide her bewilderment as to why the amount of water
release in 2008 should no less than double the amount that was pumped out in
those adverse years. Also speaking about Lake Sevan’s actual environmental
challenges–some of which are the result of an increase in water level, and
a newly emerged underwater and nearshore vegetation and the resulting
marshes–the speaker expressed concern that the lake’s cleaning process is
not in full capacity and asked: "Is this likewise linked to this proposal by
the government to stop the increase of the water level?"
The roundtable discussants also examined other relevant matters and
expressed their shared view against the government’s draft law on augmenting
the amount of water being released from Lake Sevan. They also proposed that
a communique, which will include all the concerns and opposing reviews made
during this public hearing, be prepared prior to the special parliamentary
session and asked that the Heritage Party’s Parliamentary Group present that
communique to the special session of the National Assembly.
The discussion participants also agreed to reconvene after August 19, when
the National Assembly’s position with respect to this issue will become
clear. And this position will outline the civil society’s future steps to be
taken with the support of NCI and environmental NGOs.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit