“Hetq” has recently covered the story of the company “Ararat Safari” and the ensuing uproar created. It became known that the company ‘s aim was to bring bird hunters from overseas to Armenia. It had been noted that “Ararat Safari” was an Italian company.

“Hetq” has subsequently uncovered the following details regarding “Ararat Safari, Ltd.” from the State Registry of the ROA Ministry of Justice. The company was registered on February 8, 2006 in the village of Armash in the Ararat Marz. One of the founders, Gagik Baghdasaryan who owns 30% of the stock, is down in the books as the firm’s Director. Davit Zadoyan, a former Minister of Agriculture, owns an equal share of the company’s stock. The Italian, Riccardo Galardini, owns the remaining 40%. After articles appeared in the press, the company’s website, http://www.araratsafaris.com, was shut down.

The following is an interview with Arsen Zadoyan, the son of Davit Zadoyan that took place on April 3rd at the “Hetq” editorial offices. Mr. Arsen Zadoyan claimed to be the Director of “Ararat Safari”.

Q - What type of work is your firm engaged in?

A - In the by-laws of  “Ararat Safari Ltd” it is noted that the firm engages in hunting and fishing tourism and in eco-tourism. We already have reservations from foreigners wishing to come to Armenia to hunt. This will occur after the hunting season opens here on August 20th. We should have about 10-15 people coming. Everything is being enacted according to the law.

Q - But the Ministry of Nature Protection and the Hunters’ Union do not seem to know anything about you. Why is that?

A - The reason is that until now we never had any tourists booked to hunt here. If we did we would have been obliged to apply to the Ministry for the proper hunting licenses. The same reason probably explains why the Hunters’ Union has never heard about us.

Q - What types of birds do you organize hunts for?

A - Essentially three types - quail, ducks and partridge.

Q - From your advertising it appears that more types are being hunted.

A - Those images were for advertising purposes only. We asked our local hunters for some photos for the website. One of the photos is two years old. Today, local hunting regulations only allow for a maximum limit of five ducks per day per hunter. The tourists will be split into groups of four and they’ll have four days to hunt. We’ve dug some lakes in the vicinity of the Armash fish hatchery where we’ll be putting out feed to attract the birds. Poaching will be strictly prohibited and no one can enter the area to hunt without permission.

Q - Have you leased the land in question?

A - Yes.

Q - What fee will you be charging these hunters?

A - The fee most probably be a bit lower than international rates since we’re a new business. We haven’t yet settled on a final rate.

Q - What amenities will you be offering the tourists?

A - We will pick them up at the airport, transfer them to the hotel and provide them with three daily meals. In the mornings they’ll be taken to the hunt site. The hunt ends at midday.

Q - Isn’t an Italian one of the firm’s founders?

A - Yes, Riccardo Galardini, who owns a 40% share.

Q - Was this whole thing his idea?

A - He came to Armenian three years ago and approached us with the business concept. We then agreed to get involved.

Q - It appears that bird hunting is outlawed in Italy and Europe as a whole, no?

A - Actually, hunting isn’t outlawed. Tourism that focuses on hunting takes place in all the countries neighboring Armenia. Our company organizes hunts in the Kyrghzstan, Argentina and Rumania as well. Our company has reciprocal agreements with our counterparts in these countries.

Q - Why do Italians come to Armenia to hunt? Are there no quail or partridge left in Italy?

A - It’s tourism, an accepted part of life. I see nothing wrong with it. There are 25,000 hunters in Armenia. I can assure you that if these 10-15 Italians come here they’ll be much more conscientious during the hunt than the locals, and they are more skilled at the sport. I should add that one of our employees, who is an expert in his own right and recognizes the various bird types, will be paired up with every foreign hunter.

Q - What stage is the company in presently in terms of its business plan?

A - We’ve mostly been engaged in the publicity end of the business from 2006 till now. We’ve set up a website. Now, we’re correcting some of the incorrect information appearing on the site.

Q - Your company has received some press coverage lately. Have you been contacted by any official agencies as a result?

A - I met and talked with the Head of the Department of the Environment in Ararat Marz. I’ve also gone to the Ministry to fill them in on who and what we are and why they haven’t heard about us previously.

Q - What connection do you have with the company “Safari International”?

A - We have absolutely no connection with them. We are an independent concern.