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Khosrov Still In Controversy: Environmentalists Question New Directo

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  • Khosrov Still In Controversy: Environmentalists Question New Directo

    KHOSROV STILL IN CONTROVERSY: ENVIRONMENTALISTS QUESTION NEW DIRECTOR'S CREDENTIALS
    By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN

    ArmeniaNow
    28.11.12 | 13:34

    Karen Manvelyan (left) and Arman Vermishyan

    Armenian branches of two major international environmental
    organizations are demanding that the Ministry of Environmental
    Protection annul the selection results for filling the vacant position
    of Khosrov preserve-museum's director and announce a new competition
    for the job. Leaders of the green organizations stated they are
    stopping indefinitely their financial support to the preserve.

    Enlarge Photo

    At issue is the placement of a new director who, critics say, is
    himself a hunter with questionable credentials for protecting the
    vulnerable species that inhabit the preserve.

    "Khosrov preserve is not only an area under special protection, but
    also a scientific research center. Hence, the person in charge has to
    have the highest relevant academic background, vision, publications,
    and meet a number of other criteria, whereas the newly-appointed
    director of Khosrov Preserve doesn't. The same can happen to other
    preserves and reserves, that is why it's pointless to invest money
    when who knows how it will be used," says director of World Wildlife
    Fund Armenia Karen Manvelyan.

    After the dismissal of director Varantsov Barseghyan on October 18,
    the ministry announced the vacancy with November 7 as the deadline
    for submitting applications. One of the three applicants Gabriel
    Poghosyan was selected.

    Arman Vermishyan, national coordinator at Caucasus Nature Fund
    (CNF) in Armenia, who was present at the selection process, said
    Poghosyan doesn't meet a number of criteria stated in the law on
    state non-commercial organizations.

    "So someone who has taken courses for security guards at some
    God-forsaken place [he says Kingbungtu] can also have ambitions for
    becoming the director of Khosrov preserve, if that position is now
    held by Gabriel Poghosyan, graduate of the department of commodity
    research at Rostov State University," says Vermishyan.

    Over the past three years CNF has invested in the preserve more than
    210,000 euros. Another 40,000 was planned to be invested in late 2012
    to be followed by a new quarter-based funding project. Since 2006,
    WWF-Armenia has invested half a million US dollars and was planning
    to continue funding through the coming year.

    Haykakan Zhamanak oppositional daily writes that Poghosyan, better
    known by his nickname Nono, is buddies with Speaker of Parliamenet
    Hovik Abrahamyan and his brother. He is also said to be fond of
    hunting.

    Environmental activists (Yeghia Nersisyan, Mary Khachatryan, Anna
    Shahnazaryan) claim Poghosyan is "a well-known poacher".

    WWF's Manvelyan says in Armenia everybody knows who is who and who's
    backing, who comes from where.

    "And that person, who used to be a hunter, even if he wants to keep a
    preserve, he won't be able to, because first of all he lacks proper
    academic background, and second, his circle of acquaintances won't
    let him. There are many people he can't refuse and 'shut the door'
    in front of them," he says.

    After the selection process was over Poghosyan said he likes animals
    very much and last time he hunted was 12 years ago and the only thing
    he hunted was quail.

    "We are not poachers, we are poacher punishers," he said.

    WWF-Armenia and CNF-Armenia leaders have voiced a warning that
    if the ministry does not annul the selection results and does not
    announce the vacancy again, they will turn to the board members of
    their respective organizations, who in turn are representatives of
    a number of international structures.

    The minister will announce his decision in two days.

    Meanwhile, the ministry has released a statement in which the demand
    to hold a new competition is regarded as "exceeding their commission".

    "They are no more than agents of those organizations, their
    contractors, and are not authorized to reconsider the relationship
    between those organizations and the ministry," says the statement. "In
    the nearest future the ministry, regardless of further developments
    with the competition, will make a judgment viewing the environmental
    organizations' statement as a failed attempt at interfering with the
    ministry's internal matters."

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