On 26 January, at the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) Headquarters, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Jun Yamada and ARCS President Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan signed the " Cleaning City – Changing Minds" program, in the frames of which the waste management system of Ijevan city of Tavush region will be improved.
Mayor of Ijevan City, representatives of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, and Tavush Regional administration attended the event as well.
With the support of the Japan Government, Armenian Red Cross Society will place 240 trash bins in Ijevan and provide one trash-collecting car to City Municipality, which will ensure further technical service of garbage collection.
“This kind of programs aimed at increasing the resilience and development of communities greatly change the quality of life of people, significantly changing their way of thinking. The Armenian Red Cross Society, while implementing its programs, aims to change minds and behavior, cultivating humanitarian values, and this particular one is no exception in this regard, - Dr, Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, ARCS President said. “We have an experience of successful cooperation with the Government of Japan, so I am confident in the effectiveness of this program as well”.
Ambassador Yamada, in his turn, highlighted that the improved infrastructure, proper waste management practices and increased awareness of environmental protection will lead towards sustainable development path for Armenia. Ambassador Yamada also stressed that this assistance will not only become a step towards improvement of environmental security of Armenia but also will become a strong bond and embodiment of friendship and mutual sympathy which traditionally form the very foundation of Japan – Armenia relations.
In 2020, Ijevan city municipality has approached ARCS to assist in the improvement of waste management.
Garbage collection process development, through the “Cleaning City – Changing Minds” program implementation, directed to community resilience raising, will promote environment conditions improvement and disaster risk reduction.
In the 90s the waters of the Aghstev River passing through Ijevan were polluted by the Dilijan Impulse Plant and Ijevan carpet-weaving plant. Now there are no industrial enterprises polluting the river, but there is a need of system change, which will prevent the river to be contaminated and clogged by household waste, creating risks of flooding.
