Oligarchs’ Personal Interest Prevails

We talked to the Chairwoman of the Association For Sustainable Human Development, environmentalist Karine Danielyan on recent environmental issues.

Dwelling on recent warnings about construction works in Khosrov reserve, Mrs. Danielyan said she is going to discuss this issue with the board of Sustainable Development because they fear that the reserve road is reconstructed to enable cars drive in the reserve but this would is not ecotourism.

For rumors on the exploitation of the gold mine of Mazra which may cause serious harm to biodiversity, the environmentalist said that if production of gold continues in this mode, soon Armenia will have neither ecotourism, nor biodiversity and agriculture, only destroyed subsoil. According to her, this is a matter of short-term interests which prevail over the strategic approach. The personal interests of oligarchs prevail over the public interest.

As to attempts to produce the mine in Mount Amulsar close to Jermuk resort town, Karine Danielyan says the story of the mine of Svarants near Tatev Monastery will repeat when the ministry claimed to develop industrial tourism. But tourism is compatible with a green economy, factories with zero wastes while setting up a mine near one of the most famous places of our country is lack of forethought, says the environmentalist.

In regard to Lake Sevan, she says it is necessary to revise the decision to take more water from the lake since this year there was enough rain in summer. In 2008, the same issue was discussed, and we proved there was no drought; we carried out a research supported by the UN and found out the lake reacted positively to the rising water level, says Danielyan.

As to the opinion that they want to take more water from the lake to make sure the mansions situated on the shore are not covered with water, Karine Danielyan says in 2008 they had similar suspicions though they cannot be sure. Meanwhile farmers complain that they do not get water even though the rivers are full. On the other hand, the water of Sevan will flow to the Caspian Sea, so what is the meaning?

Karine Danielyan is sure that it is necessary to have a vision. She agrees there are many issues in the country but according to her the main issue is that people try to solve their problems through emigration. So it is necessary to have a vision and work in all directions to change the situation.