Days ago Ecolur NGO received an alert call that the construction of a restaurant in Gilan reserve of Khostov forest had been continuing. Let us remember that the construction was on hold for awhile due to the efforts of the environmentalists. In order to find out the actual situation we visited Gilan reserve with the chair of the organization Inga Zarafyan.
What a paradise…
Perhaps Khosrov II Kotak King would never imagine that 17 centuries later in the forest established by him the current “elite” of Armenia would initiate a construction of a restaurant complex. The forest established by Khosrov II in 330-338 AD gained a status of a state reserve only in 1958. The reserve was created to improve and enrich the fauna and flora of the forest. It occupies approximately 27.000 hectares of land and is stretched along the south-western side of Geghama mountain chain. The Armenian moufflon (wild sheep) is the most commonly seen animal there and the goat of bezoar. Among the birds we mostly see the black falcon, the sheep hawk and the eagle. The poisonous rattle snake is commonly found as well. In this forest we also see historic monuments – Geghard, Havuts Tar, Kakavaberd and the medieval bridge. Indeed our oligarchs couldn’t possibly miss this reserve from their attention. And if according to Khorenatsi Khosrov II planted trees in the reserve then the representatives of the nowadays oligopolies take on the right to annihilate the trees and the forest in order to build a complex for parties and feasts. And this dire story started on May 24, 2007. At that time the RA government has made the decision to establish Gilan state reserve in Khosrov forest, which was ratified by the former president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan. Moreover, in the decision we may read “in order to strengthen the importance and protection of Khosrov state forest it is found expedient to establish Gilan state reserve with Bayburd region, which is given out for 60-year lease and occupies 118 hectares of land.” And the license of lease and construction of Gilan was given to Hovazadzor LTD, which was registered in September 2007. By the way, the founders of the company are Kamo Khachatryan and Mikhail Bezrukov. It’s worth mentioning one more factor. “Certain parts of the lands of Gilan may be given out for rent for agricultural purposes for a 10-year period and for 5 year period for grass reaping purposes. Nonetheless, before the applications of the potential renters the fundament of the restaurant was constructed.” “I am building a paradise, paradise…” this is how responded the workers working on the site.
Road to the heart of Gilan
On the road to Khosrov road we could notice the piles of garbage. Along that, the Brook of Arax River floats, which from time to time takes a piece of garbage from the bank of the river. And a sort of an internal struggle strikes between the water and the garbage. After passing the sign of Khosrov forest another struggle begins between the destroyed road and the passers. Over 8 kilometers from the entrance is located Gilan reserve, after passing which the passersby cannot miss the private house built there. Besides these houses a whole village is located – Gilanlar. The village has approximately 30 families but doesn’t have a kindergarten, school, clinic, store or even a head of village. “We are not here illegally. We are in our property. They don’t give us certificates because they say that this is a state reserve and that we have no right to be here. This is what we are struggling for,” said Bagrat Abrahamyan, who was sitting next to Gilan reserve and was quite surprised to know how come the government legalizes the construction of a restaurant and meanwhile plays with the destiny of a whole village.
Incomplete paradise
The style of the Armenian oligarchs was noticed even here. The type of the tiles and the unclear design of the restaurant left the impression that soon they are going to listen to “rabis” music. The fundament of the restaurant is built, however judging from the grass grown on the sand we may assume the construction has been on hold for awhile. “No, nothing is taking place here,” said a young man that was guarding the building by avoiding answering our questions. “Well I have been here a month and don’t even know what they are building,” he said. “One beautiful day the minister of nature protection and journalists visited with us and told us to cease the construction in Gilan reserve. And as you see we are following this order and no construction is being done at the moment,” mentioned the head of Garni division of Khosrov forest Sargis Hovhannisyan. To the question as to what the destiny of this building is going to be Hovhannisyan responded, “I don’t know. I really don’t know.” As of the protection 0f the area by the leasers Hovhannisyan mentioned, “I think this matter will be solved this way. If they have the right to come and go they should because they may apply to certain bodies and people and try to defend their rights.” The duties of the workers of the reserve are currently confined by the protection of flora and fauna of the reserve. So their job is to prohibit tree cutting and prevent poaching. According to Hovhannisyan during the 12 years of his tenure there has been no case of poaching or tree cutting. But is it legal to build such a building in a state reserve? Hovhannisyan responded, “Who said it’s illegal? The whole republic knows it’s legal. How can it be illegal of there is the decision of the government and people are employed here? How can it be illegal? So if it’s illegal you try to build it too.” To our next question as if it’s legal why would they freeze the activities of construction Hovhannisyan said, “I cannot answer that question. The construction was going on; then they froze it and I haven’t personally read the documents. So I don’t know.” Although the construction of the restaurant has been ceased temporarily nevertheless the environmentalists continue being concerned about the future destiny of the reserve taking into account decision number 3 of the government. “This is a danger which needs to be prevented despite anything else,” say the environmentalists.