“S.O.S. Sevan” Reaches Out to Lake Sevan Residents
[ 2009/05/05 | 17:25 ]On April 30, the S.O.S Sevan and Ecolur NGO’s travelled to the town of Sevan where they met with local representatives regarding threats to the lake. Members of the ecological groups also visited the communities of Tzovagyugh and Noradus, two villages primarily engaged in fishing.
In Sevan, the environmentalists met with local NGO’s, “STV1″ television, the Sevan branch of the Greens Union, the mayor of Sevan, representatives of the Sevan National Park, the Sevan youth group and reporters of the “Sevan” newspaper.
In Sevan, the S.O.S. NGO informed local residents of the many petitions that have been sent to the president of Armenia and the public at large calling for a halt to the construction of a gold reprocessing plant on the shores of Lake Sevan and that the RoA law regarding Lake Sevan, that prohibits such commercial activity at the lake, remain unchanged.
The S.O.S. Sevan organization informed local residents about the on-going campaign to save the lake and the public responses uttered by state bodies responsible for preserving the lake including the RoA Ministry of Nature Protection, the Committee of Sevan Issues attached to the RoA president and the Agricultural and Ecological Committee of the RoA National Assembly.
During the meeting held in Sevan, local residents approached the S.O.S Sevan representatives and requested that they be kept informed of developments regarding the lake.
While the environmentalists had previously made arrangements for a meeting in Tzovagyugh, the mayor suddenly left town before they arrived. Thus the environmental groups met with local residents, the youth and community leaders.
One resident of Tzovagyugh stated, “Of course we want to defend Sevan. It can’t be any other way. But who listens to us? We are common folk and no one pays us any attention. They can do want they want.”
In Noradus, the environmentalists met with local fishermen and municipal representatives.
