3 minute read
A new daily regulated reservoir will be constructed in Armenia’s Lori region with funding from the Government of Serbia, aimed at promoting the economic development of several local communities.
The project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, is being built in the Hovnanadzor settlement.
The reservoir, with a capacity of 8,900 cubic meters, will be equipped with water supply and drainage systems.
Nine rural settlements will directly benefit from the reservoir: Yaghdan and Koghes in the Lori Berd community, as well as Karmir Aghek, Arevatsag, Tsater, Mghart, Aygehat, Odzun, and Ardvin in the Alaverdi community.
Serbian Ambassador to Armenia, Tatyana Panayotovich-Tsvetkovich, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, Natia Natsvlishvili, and Lori Berd community head Arayik Nersisyan visited the construction site and observed the ongoing work.
Ambassador Panayotovich-Tsvetkovich emphasized the strong ties between Armenia and Serbia, noting that since the opening of the Serbian Embassy in Yerevan in 2019, significant efforts have been made to deepen bilateral cooperation.
"Through discussions with UNDP representatives, we are working to identify how Serbia can support development-oriented and humanitarian projects in rural areas,” she said.
“I am very pleased that, at our proposal, the Serbian government agreed to allocate 1 million euros in support to enhance the well-being of local communities."
She noted that approximately 70% of this assistance will be directed toward youth and women’s empowerment, with the remainder allocated to water resource management and green energy development.
UNDP’s Natia Natsvlishvili added that the initiative is aimed at strengthening local communities.
"The reservoir will irrigate 400 hectares of land in Lori Berd and is innovative in that it promotes ecological sustainability and stability. It will also allow for better management of water flows during different seasons, especially in cases of heavy rainfall, thus helping to mitigate crisis situations,” she said.
Koryun Shekoyan, Acting Head of the Department for Development Programme Design and Implementation, expressed gratitude to the Serbian government.
"This is an excellent initiative, particularly for Lori region, where agriculture is of strategic importance. The reservoir will not only address irrigation issues but also help prevent flooding. It will serve approximately 11,000 residents across rural communities which is an unprecedented investment for the region," he said.