YEREVAN. – The model of governance has substantially changed at the Ministry of Nature Protection, the procedures for issuing permits, licenses, and agreements have been facilitated, there is no subjective approach in terms of licenses, and the actions are carried out within the prescribed timeframes.

Erik Grigoryan, Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia, said the aforementioned at Friday’s press conference to sum up the results of the first 100 days of his tenure in this capacity.

He added that they already have received grants and will receive more from international donors.

“We expect a 23.5mn-dram grant [approx US$48,600] from the [German Development Bank] KfW Bank (…); it [the respective] will be signed this year,” Grigoryan added. “This is the first separate grant that has ever been given to Armenia by the bank I’ve noted, [and] which has nothing to do with any loan.

“Also, we have a $7.5mn grant from the Global Environment Fund.”

The Armenian environment minister stated, however, that no grant can resolve the problems if they do not know what they are doing.

“The capacity of the Ministry [of Nature Protection of Armenia] needs to be strengthened,” Erik Grigoryan added, in particular, in this regard.