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Armenian Embassy hosts presentation on Armenian science & Lake Sevan

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  • Armenian Embassy hosts presentation on Armenian science & Lake Sevan

    Armen Press
    July 12 2004

    ARMENIAN EMBASSY HOSTS PRESENTATION ON ARMENIAN SCIENCE AND LAKE
    SEVAN

    YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian foreign affairs
    ministry said that on July 7, 2004, the Embassy of Armenia in the USA
    hosted members of the Federal Water Quality Association and the
    Greater Metropolitan Washington Area Section of the Armenian
    Engineers and Scientists of America for a presentation on Armenian
    science and environmental issues. Arman Kirakosian, Armenian
    Ambassador to the U.S., delivered the keynote address, entitled "The
    State of the Science in Armenia, with a View Toward the Water
    Environment of Lake Sevan," to an audience of some 60 experts,
    researchers, and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection
    Agency, Department of Agriculture, Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
    Civilian Research & Development Foundation, and other public and
    private entities.
    In his presentation and the Q&A that followed, Ambassador
    Kirakosian presented the modern state of scientific infrastructure,
    policies, and directions in Armenia. He described the many challenges
    facing the Armenian scientists today, such as drastic decrease in
    government funding, greater need for commercial viability and
    involvement of the private sector in directing and funding R&D, and
    curtailing the so-called 'brain-drain.' Despite these challenges, the
    Armenian scientists continue to make progress in many areas of
    fundamental and applied science due to perseverance and support from
    their foreign colleagues and international donors, the Ambassador
    noted. He also presented the government's plans to strengthen science
    and education sectors.
    Turning to Lake Sevan, Ambassador Kirakosian described the
    severity of the man-made ecological problems in Lake Sevan during the
    twentieth century, caused by extensive irrigation and hydropower
    usage. The resulting 18-meter drop in water level and disruption of
    water balance in the lake was a good example of Soviet era
    environmental damage, he added. The Ambassador then noted the current
    positive trends in Lake Sevan ecology, but stressed the need for
    continuing attention for and greater international cooperation to
    preserve the unique environment of Lake Sevan.
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