A nationwide program “Clean Homeland” was kicked off in Armenia in earnest on World Environment Day marked on June 5 as Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and other members of his Cabinet personally participated in cleaning and improvement works in the vicinity of three bridges in Yerevan (Victory, Kiyevyan and Davidashen). The premier told his ministers last month he had received a letter from a youth public movement, Miasin, calling for a “clean Armenia”, which prompted the origination of the program.

“The concept of Clean Homeland has a serious and far-going meaning. We must be consistent in order to make this initiative spread to all provinces of Armenia, and we are going to participate in this campaign by all means,” Prime Minister Sargsyan said after leading the way of cleaning work in orange gloves, a blue cap and a white shirt, saying Bnapahpan (or Environmentalist), and wearing black sunglasses. His son Abgar, sporting the same outfit, helped his father clean the territory.

As the official website of the Government of Armenia reports, the program, drafted by the interdepartmental working group, created according to the decree of the prime minister, aims to promote cleaner environments in cities and towns across Armenia.

Environmentalists welcome the initiative. Inga Zarafyan, head of the EcoLur Environmental Informational NGO, says that such campaigns are needed routinely.

“It is necessary to solve other environmental problems, too, which occurred, for example, after making the Zangu River flow through a tube, which has disturbed the ecosystem of the city [Yerevan]. Besides, it is necessary to regulate the activities of different private constructions in Hrazdan Gorge, so that they do not pollute the environment with their cafes and restaurants [operating in the gorge],” Zarafyan told ArmeniaNow.

Under the program it is planned to install additional recycle bins and information panels introducing the fauna and flora of Hrazdan Gorge as well as information on how to keep the place clean. It is also planned to create a commission working on voluntary lines to oversee the sanitary condition of the area.

Among the coordinators of and participants in the Clean Homeland program are also the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Yerevan Municipality and some NGOs.