YEREVAN (Novosti Armenia), June 7–For the first time on the initiative of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian, the environmental awareness program called “Clean Nature” began in Yerevan.

On March 9 the Armenian government made a decision on establishing an interdepartmental working group called “Clean Homeland” for the development of the program. The first step of the program is the “Three Bridges” action, aimed at improving and cleaning the areas of the bridges near Hrazdan Gorge, Kievian Street and the Davitashen district.

“We must teach our children and our grandchildren that they shouldn’t pollute our favorite city. This must become a tradition, a habit. I think this is an important element of patriotism. The ‘Clean Homeland’ concept has rather serious intentions,” Sarkisian said after the start of the action.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the youth movement “Together,” which was one of the initiators of the program. Sarkisian also stressed the necessity of consistency in spreading the action across various levels nationwide.

“The aim of the program is the preservation of environmental cleanliness, the establishment of culture and tradition and a sense of responsibility for preserving that cleanness,” Aram Harutyunyan, the Minister of Nature Protection said.

He added that due to the durational work of the interdepartmental committee, actions on cleaning all Yerevan communities and Armenian regions are expected in the future.

The coordinator of the “Three Bridges” action initiative is the Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection.

Yerevan City Hall, the Ministry for Emergency Situations, World Wildlife Fund, public organizations like “Together,” “Clean Yerevan,” “Fist” and the youth wing of the Republican party also joined the action.

Translated from Russian by Yerevan Report