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HEADING FOR AFRICAN INTEGRATION
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It is not news that our government officials are fond of history-making
statements, and we can often see and hear the manifestations. For
instance, our officials doubted the construction and operation of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The pipeline was built and is
already operating. Now the same officials are doubting the gas pipeline
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum. Another official developed the theory of quiet
and peaceful development of the Armenian economy without roads. Now
it is the turn of Artashes Ziroyan, the head of the department of
protection of natural resources of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection. Artashes Ziroyan has decided to sell Sevan. Not the town
and not a restaurant or hotel called Sevan. Artashes Ziroyan wants
to sell Lake Sevan. Not all once. Part by part. Barrel by barrel.
This official stated in an interview with the reporter of the Time
Yerevan that since Lake Sevan is drinking water, we can sell it to
"African countries, like Azerbaijan sells its oil. We will have the
tap, and we will say, bro, you have to consider our opinion."
In making such an initiative, Ziroyan must have considered the
actuality. If the fishermen and poachers sell the fish and crabs of
the lake, the authorities and power robbers sell the shores of the
lake, why shouldn't Artashes Ziroyan sell the water of the lake?
Especially that unlike the shores of Sevan, the water of Sevan is a
renewable resource, especially now, when the level of water is rising.
Unfortunately, Artashes Ziroyan declines to say what will happen
to the ecosystem of the lake in particular and Armenia in general,
if the water in Lake Sevan is sold unsparingly as the fish and crabs.
Ziroyan is supposed to know the essential damage of uncontrolled
fishing in the lake, however, for he is the official in charge of
protection of the country's natural resources.
Or if we are going to sell our water to the African countries and
say "bro, etc" and these African countries are not actors in the
geopolitical developments that are important for us, and we have chosen
the path of European integration rather than African integration,
is it worthwhile to eat, sorry to drink Sevan for a meaningless
"bro"? It would be something else if Ziroyan proposed to sell Lake
Sevan to the members of the European Union. But good old Europe does
not know what to do with its own water. Our strategic partner does
not have a shortage of drinking water either.
No, Mr. Ziroyan, this won't do. Lake Sevan is not a remedy for our
problems. Besides, who said that the best way of protection of natural
resources is their destruction?
ARAM ZAKARYAN
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It is not news that our government officials are fond of history-making
statements, and we can often see and hear the manifestations. For
instance, our officials doubted the construction and operation of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The pipeline was built and is
already operating. Now the same officials are doubting the gas pipeline
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum. Another official developed the theory of quiet
and peaceful development of the Armenian economy without roads. Now
it is the turn of Artashes Ziroyan, the head of the department of
protection of natural resources of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection. Artashes Ziroyan has decided to sell Sevan. Not the town
and not a restaurant or hotel called Sevan. Artashes Ziroyan wants
to sell Lake Sevan. Not all once. Part by part. Barrel by barrel.
This official stated in an interview with the reporter of the Time
Yerevan that since Lake Sevan is drinking water, we can sell it to
"African countries, like Azerbaijan sells its oil. We will have the
tap, and we will say, bro, you have to consider our opinion."
In making such an initiative, Ziroyan must have considered the
actuality. If the fishermen and poachers sell the fish and crabs of
the lake, the authorities and power robbers sell the shores of the
lake, why shouldn't Artashes Ziroyan sell the water of the lake?
Especially that unlike the shores of Sevan, the water of Sevan is a
renewable resource, especially now, when the level of water is rising.
Unfortunately, Artashes Ziroyan declines to say what will happen
to the ecosystem of the lake in particular and Armenia in general,
if the water in Lake Sevan is sold unsparingly as the fish and crabs.
Ziroyan is supposed to know the essential damage of uncontrolled
fishing in the lake, however, for he is the official in charge of
protection of the country's natural resources.
Or if we are going to sell our water to the African countries and
say "bro, etc" and these African countries are not actors in the
geopolitical developments that are important for us, and we have chosen
the path of European integration rather than African integration,
is it worthwhile to eat, sorry to drink Sevan for a meaningless
"bro"? It would be something else if Ziroyan proposed to sell Lake
Sevan to the members of the European Union. But good old Europe does
not know what to do with its own water. Our strategic partner does
not have a shortage of drinking water either.
No, Mr. Ziroyan, this won't do. Lake Sevan is not a remedy for our
problems. Besides, who said that the best way of protection of natural
resources is their destruction?
ARAM ZAKARYAN