EcoLur
Upon PM Tigran Sargsyan’s assignment, Nature Protection First Deputy Minister Simon Papyan invited the public representatives to discuss civic initiatives the issue of Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan’s resignation and his bringing to justice. Reminder: “Teghout Support”, “Trchkan”, “Khosrov Reserve”, “Jermuk Won’t Become a Mine” civic initiatives dispatched their statement to PM Tigran Sargsyan and Public Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan on 5 November…
In his introductory speech Simon Papyan noted: “The initiatives refused to take part in the discussion and it’s their right, which we respect. There are ways out of difficult situations and I want to discuss them with you.”
Nevertheless, the public representatives refused to discuss the statement of civic initiatives. The Coordinator of Public Environmental Alliance Silma Adamyan made a statement, “We don’t consider it possible to discuss the statement of civic initiatives, and moreover, we ourselves are included in different initiatives. For example, I myself am a member of “Khosrov Reserve” initiative.” Silva Adamyan also raised the issue of her status in the correspondence with Nature Protection Ministry. The problem is that the Ministry refers to the Coordinator of the Alliance as a citizen in its response letters neglecting the fact that she is a public representative. The Ministry’s explanation that alliance is neither a legal nor a natural person didn’t satisfy Silva Adamyan and she left the meeting.
Director of Scientific Center for Zoology of Hydroecology of NAS RA Bardukh Gabrielyan, Head of Laboratory of the same Center Mamikon Kasabyan, Director of Institute of Botany of NAS RA Zhirayr Vardanyan and senior researcher of Botany Institute Gohar Oganezova, representative of Armenian Association of Ecotourism Zhanna Galyan raised the issue of RA draft law “On Specially Protected Areas.” The bill makes stakeholders extremely concerned. According to Zhanna Galyan, the bill aims to share tidbits of the reserve zone and Khosrov reserve among top officials. Simon Papyan answered that the bill was returned for further improvements and said that comments and remarks will be accepted.
He also replied to EcoLur’s statement on the burdened package of public hearings on the projects bearing high risks for health and environment. Simon Papyan explained that he can’t see any malice that at once 10 hearings on mining projects will be held during two weeks. “The reason for this is that companies realized they have problems with duration of licenses issued to them by Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and appointed hearings on their project at the end of the year,” he explained. In reply EcoLur demanded to apply the existing mechanisms and to protect the interests of environment, and not that of the companies. As a result, a primary arrangement was reached that public participation may be ensured through appointing additional hearings on especially hazardous projects. Aram Gabrielyan noted that the main problem is take into consideration the expressed opinion in opinion on projects.
December 21, 2012 at 11:47