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CEPF MANAGEMENT SURPRISED AT RA GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAY THROUGH SHIKAHOGH RESERVE
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The management of the Critical
Ecosystems Partnership Foundation (CEPF) is surprised at the position
of RA government in the issue of construction of the Meghri-Kapan
highway through the territory of Shikahogh reserve. CEPF started to
implement its first projects in Armenia. Dan Martin, Foundation's
Chief Executive Director, informed at the June 1 press conference that
2 out of 6 projects on Armenia concern strengthening of regimes of
Khosrov and Shikahogh reserves. Dan Martin, in particular, mentioned
that he doesn't understand the position of the state structures,
which, on the one hand, approve a strategic program on creation of
new protected territories and, on the other hand, discuss a project
quite opposite to it. In any case, according to him, the Foundation
is a non-state and non-political organization and can't exert any
pressure upon the government. "We will continue implementing projects
contributing to nature conservation," he said. Karen Manvelian, CEPF
project Coordinator in Armenia, emphasized that there is an alternative
project of a strategic highway passing over the reserve. According
to him, RA Ministry of Transport and Communication groundlessly
exaggerates the costs on laying of the alternative highway and doesn't
take into account the ecological and economic damage expected in case
of implementation of the road construction project through Shikahogh.
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The management of the Critical
Ecosystems Partnership Foundation (CEPF) is surprised at the position
of RA government in the issue of construction of the Meghri-Kapan
highway through the territory of Shikahogh reserve. CEPF started to
implement its first projects in Armenia. Dan Martin, Foundation's
Chief Executive Director, informed at the June 1 press conference that
2 out of 6 projects on Armenia concern strengthening of regimes of
Khosrov and Shikahogh reserves. Dan Martin, in particular, mentioned
that he doesn't understand the position of the state structures,
which, on the one hand, approve a strategic program on creation of
new protected territories and, on the other hand, discuss a project
quite opposite to it. In any case, according to him, the Foundation
is a non-state and non-political organization and can't exert any
pressure upon the government. "We will continue implementing projects
contributing to nature conservation," he said. Karen Manvelian, CEPF
project Coordinator in Armenia, emphasized that there is an alternative
project of a strategic highway passing over the reserve. According
to him, RA Ministry of Transport and Communication groundlessly
exaggerates the costs on laying of the alternative highway and doesn't
take into account the ecological and economic damage expected in case
of implementation of the road construction project through Shikahogh.