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On November 29, on the initiative of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment parliamentary hearings on the theme The Situation, Problems and the Directions of the Solution of the RA Specially Protected Nature Areas were held.

The RA Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan, the RA NA deputies, the representatives of the concerned departments and organizations, of the RA National Academy of Sciences, of the international and non-governmental organizations and those responsible for the sphere took part in the hearings.

In his opening remarks the Committee Chair Vardevan Grigoryan, highlighting the parliamentary hearings on the theme, has noted that the goal of the hearings is to hear once more opinions, as well as get constructive recommendations for filling in the legislative gaps.

The RA Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan has noted that under the specially protected nature areas in Armenia about 13.1% area is managed which, though compared with a number of other countries is a progress, but it is not sufficient, and the areas should be enlarged and be made more regular the protection systems.

In his report the Head of the Specially Protected Nature Areas Management Division of the Bioresources Management Agency of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection Aram Aghasyan presented the problems of the specially protected nature areas and proposed their solutions.

In his report the First Deputy Director, Chief Forester of Hayantar State Non-Commercial Organization of the RA Ministry of Agriculture Ruben Petrosyan highlighted the cooperation with the international environmental structures and individual entrepreneurs.

The Head of the World Wide Fund (WWF) Armenia Office Karen Manvelyan presented the works done by the Fund.

During the hearings the RA NA deputies Vardan Bostanjyan, Araik Hovhannisyan, Lena Nazaryan and Sergey Bagratyan expressed their viewpoints on the theme under debate.

In his speech the Vice President of the RA National Assembly Mikayel Melkumyan emphasized the results of the hearings and urged the participants to address the Committee Chair after 3 months with the expectation of receiving a report on the results.

Wrapping up the hearings the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Vardevan Grigoryan highlighted the viewpoint and remark voiced in the hearings, has noted that the recommendations would be taken into consideration during the legislative reforms.