VIDEO. Should We Conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment Again? Pashinyan Joked

During a government meeting, Minister of Environment Erik Grigoryan unexpectedly interrupted the approval of the "State Support Program for Sheep and Goat Breeding Development in the Republic of Armenia for 2019-2023." It turned out that the ministry had a role to play here.

Grigoryan explained that if the document is conceptual, then its impact on the environment must be assessed.

“Wait a minute, are we approving the program now, but it doesn’t come into force, right? Again, it turns out we need to conduct an EIA?” Pashinyan joked.

Grigoryan elaborated on the procedure that should be followed in this case, stating that a general concept must be developed not only for sheep breeding but also for pasture development.

“What’s the operation? Because there is a significant risk that it could turn out that the sheep will eat the grass in our fields and cause great harm to the environment,” Pashinyan humorously remarked, making a reference to the Amulsar mine.

Grigoryan responded that the risk of desertification does indeed exist, to which Pashinyan replied, “I know, I know.” Deputy Minister of Economy Avag Avanesyan commented that the anticipated increase in sheep numbers is not significant enough to impact the environment.

“Well, if, for example, someone decides to import 3 million sheep into Armenia, should it go through an EIA, right?” Pashinyan joked again.

Grigoryan replied seriously that yes, it should.