Minister of Ecology of Armenia Vartan Ayvazyan was among the participants of the symbolic tree-planting yesterday in the village of Karin in the Aragatsotn Marz, part of the tree-planting project organized through the combined efforts of the U.S. Embassy and the “Armenia Tree-planting” project coordinators. Ayvazyan and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan planted two trees.
It’s easy for state officials to participate in such events, especially one like the tree-planting event, where either the holes are already dug for them to plant the trees, or a lower state official digs one for them. It turns out that anyone can plant a tree. But whereas some officials, such as Chief Prosecutor of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan and Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan remember how many trees they planted, Vartan Ayvazyan on the other hand doesn’t because, as he says, he had planted too many. U.S. Ambassador John Evans and his wife also planted two trees, during which V. Ayvazyan took the time to answer some of the journalists’ questions.
“168 Hours” asked the minister of ecology whether it was possible that Armenia might find itself in an energetic crisis in a couple of years due to the two-fold increase in gas prices and the handover of a large part of the energy system to one country, which will have a negative influence on the forest economy of Armenia (after all, the forests will be ruined just like in the 1990s because the wood had to be burned). The minister of ecology did not agree with this.
“Why aren’t you sure that we will get out of the situation? I am not of the opinion that an energetic crisis awaits Armenia. As you can see, the government is doing everything it can so that the people are not that affected by the gas price increase. As for alternative power-generators, I must say that as of today, we have the permission to use the water supply of 60 minor hydroelectric stations. As of today, we have a surplus of power-generators,” said Ayvazyan.
Mr. Ayvazyan didn’t remember whether or not he had given his colleague and MP Hermine Naghdalyan permission to construct a hydroelectric station for water supply in the Vayots Dzor Marz.
“I don’t think that Hermine Naghdalyan shouldn’t have the right to construct a hydroelectric station. I am not against anyone. Whoever can do it, I wish them good luck,” said the minister of ecology.