YEREVAN. - Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan today held a consultation with the governor of Armenia’s Gegharkunik province and responsible representatives of the regional administration on the socio-economic situation in the province in 2014 and the first half of 2015. 

“As I have said a number of times before, we actually owe [Lake] Sevan and must return the debt, but it would be proper to have a certain economic component here given the future solution of issues not only through state budget funds,” the President said.

Among the perspective projects the President mentioned pisiculture. He also touched on the issue of spending the means allocated for seeds, fertilizers and fuel.

The province governor Rafik Grigoryan introduced the situation according to separate sectors, the implemented and ongoing programs, as well as the problems and priorities of the province.

Referring to pisiculture, the governor noted that the issue is not only to regenerate fish supplies. “It’s necessary to solve the issue of ecological balance. The structures, which have appeared on the rivers flowing into [Lake] Sevan over the last 15-20 years, should be removed, since they hinder natural development, despite of their possible economic benefit,” the governor said.

Territorial Development Fund CEO Ashot Kirakosyan reported on the planned investments. 

At the end of the consultation, Serzh Sargsyan gave a number of instructions, specifically to continue creating public beaches, look into the possibility of establishing a reservoir in the upper current of Argich River, etc.