INVESTMENT PROJECT ON CREATION OF ARPI LAKE NATIONAL PARK WITH BUDGET OF 2.2 MLN EURO ‘THREATENS’ WITH SOCIAL-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SHIRAK REGION

ArmInfo
2010-05-12 14:22:00

ArmInfo. The investment project on creation of Arpi Lake national park
in Ashotsk district of Shirak region with budget of 2.2 mln Euro is not
only of ecological but also of social-economic importance. Within the
frames of this project, it is envisaged to create a unique ecological
corridor in the territories of three neighbouring countries: Armenia,
Georgia and Turkey. According to Armenian Minister of Nature Protection
Aram Harutyunyan, the negotiation process on near-border cooperation
with Georgia is at quite an advanced stage.

Implementation of a project on creation of Arpi Lake national park
may become a catalyser in solution of numerous problems the regional
authorities face, such as preservation of the unique biodiversity,
development of the transport infrastructure, bee breeding and cattle
reeding as a primary business of residents of the whole Ashotsk region,
as well as creation of a favourable business atmosphere.

However, implementation of such projects is difficult without
political support, German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt
said. He expressed hope that the project will assure social-economic
development of Ashotsk region and will allow to solve such important
problems as creation of transport communication. The ambassador’s
optimism and hope was shared by Head of KfW German Bank in Armenia
Karapet Gevorkyan. "I attach special importance to the social-economic
component of this programme and I hope that its implementation will
allow to enhance the living standards of the local population",
Gevorkyan emphasized. Construction of the administrative building
in the territory of Arpi Lake national park, the foundation-stone of
which was laid on May 11, has become the first step in creation of the
park. It is scheduled to complete construction of this building in June
2011 and develop Ashotsk region’s social- economic development plan.

To note, the project on creation of Arpi Lake national park is carried
out within the frames of a regional agreement on creation of reserved
areas in the Armenian district of Javakhk (Ashotsk), signed in October
2005 among Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection, Economy Ministry,
Finance Ministry and KfW German Bank. The programme is implemented
by Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection, Economy Ministry, Finance
Ministry and KfW German Bank. The programme is implemented by Armenia’s
Ministry of Nature Protection and the World Wildlife Foundation.