On August 3, 2022, Environment Ministry held another public hearing on RA draft law "On Amendments to Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise". Deputy Environment Ministers Gayane Gabrielyan and Aram Meimaryan, Acting Director of Environmental Impact Expert Assessment Center Khachik Martirosyan, heads of the Ministry's professional departments, Vrezh Galoyan, Deputy Head of Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body, representatives of interested departments, Inga Zarafyan, President of "EcoLur" Informational NGO and journalist Kristina Ter-Matevosyan, Director of "Forests of Armenia" NGO Nazeli Vardanyan, "Community Mobilization and Support Center" NGO Oleg Dulgaryan, President of "National Water Cooperation" NGO Arevik Hovsepyan were present at the discussion.
Deputy Minister Gayane Gabrielyan noted that some of the proposals and remarks presented by non-governmental organizations were accepted during the last review of the project. The latter also promised that some recommendations presented during the discussion will also be added to the draft law. "The project should be sent to the Government tomorrow. We will organize a discussion with our colleagues in the Government. However, considering a number of recommendations made today, we will also have another meeting with the civil society," the deputy minister said.
Inga Zarafyan was also interested in what amendments can be expected as a result of these hearings regarding the disputed points in the current law. "Our country has adopted the policy of climate change and green economy. It includes climate justice, equity of responsibility. Our adopted policy is reflected in the law. We should clearly know that the issues that concern us have been reflected in certain specific points of the law," she said.
Gayane Gabrielyan said that they have included all the legal bases in the law and they are reflected. "The Ministry of Environment is one of those responsible for the green economy, it cares the most about the circular economy and the efficiency and preservation of natural resources. We have a whole package that is related to the climate and for which we have put the legal basis in the EIA law, so that we can derive the next legal regulations from it."
August 05, 2022 at 15:34