So filled with household trash is the Kasakh River, that one really can't tell if the waters are flowing at all. Mr. Hayk Haykyan, an assistant to the Agricultural Minister, confesses that he can't remember when the river was last cleaned Mr. Haykyan states that the cleaning of the river isn't included in this year's budget. The only rivers to be cleaned are the Arax, Hrazdan, Aghstev and Vedi. He noted that the minister personally visits the regions, checks the situation and prioritizes the necessary work. Artur Ayvazyan, who heads the Agricultural and Environmental Division at the Armavir Regional Authority, states, "There is no doubt that the Kasakh River needs to be cleaned. This is based on our examinations of the rivers that flow in the Armavir Marz. We've taken the matter to the ministry. Whether or not the Kasakh will be included in a clean-up program is up to the ministry." Mr. Haykyan noted that the prioritization of rivers for clean-up is based on the acreage of lands that particular rivers irrigate. While he didn't refute the fact that the Kasakh irrigates a large area of land he confessed that his hands were tied if no money was forthcoming from the state government. We also found out that the Ministry for Nature Protection can't do anything to clean up the Kasakh River either. According to Artzroun Pepanyan, who heads the Ministry's Public Affairs Office, they do not have the authority to implement river clean-up. At best, the ministry can compile a report on the problem and issue its recommendation for clean-up work. Mr. Pepanyan stated that the clean-up can be carried out by those communities through which the river runs. Mr. Ayvazyan from the Armavir Regional Authority viewed such a prospect to be absurd. "How do you expect village communities, who can't even pay people salaries, to have the resources to get the heavy equipment needed for such costly work?"