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IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SWIM IN SEVAN “FREE OF CHARGE”

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"Dilijan" national park will have 36600 hectares territory instead of the former 28000 hectares. The Ministry of Environment intends to hold discussions on the territorial enlargement with the Dilijan community and a few rural communities. The new borders of the park will be established after the discussion.

Vardan Aivazyan, Minister of Environment , assures that this project implemented within the framework of SORFECO&ONF international program will enhance eco-tourism in “Dilijan” and will give a chance to have profit from other sources besides timber.

“Eco-tourism and agro-tourism are universally accepted in the world practice. We have much work to do in the territory of the park. The impassable roads will be cleaned. Cottages will be built in certain places,” announced the minister during his meeting with journalists today.

Asked the question whether the development of eco-tourism in Dilijan will be like that of Sevan (that’s to say whether there will be illegal buildings and illegal levies), Mr Aivazyan said, “Nothing will be built in the reserve area where no economic activity is permitted.”

As for the 2000 – 3000 AMD taken from the visitors in Sevan, the Minister of Environment Protection once more reminded the rights of visitors, “They may take money only when they do any service. The law on Sevan says that any person has the right step into water area. So you are free to swim free of charge as much as you want.”

Mr. Aivazyan claims that Dilijan will not suffer much because of the program as international organizations having great experience in this sphere are involved in the program.

In comparison with the minister, Ashot Davtyan, head of “Dilijan,” is not yet sure what outcome the program might have on the national park as they haven’t had such an experience so far.

We shall try not to harm nature but as this is our first experiment we cannot anticipate positive results,” says Mr. davtyan.

“Dilijan” got the status of national park in 2002. Before that, it was a reserve which implies the absence of economic activity. Many rare trees such as beech, maple, have preserved in that area.

The head of the park notes that today Dilijan is one of the well-preserved forests in the country. “I don’t want to boast on this score. It is determined by the fact that Dilijan has had gas since 1994 which made it possible to preserve the forest.”