Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today traveled to Lori Marz of Armenia. Accompanied by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and Governor of Lori Marz Andrei Ghukasyan, the Prime Minister first inspected the newly refurbished Gulagarak road. Note that the 2.5 km-long road section was completely repaired in 2019.

“This is the road leading to the Stepanavan Arboretum - one of the most picturesque and rare destinations in Armenia. Due to this road’s poor state, the flow of tourists to this important venue was blocked for a long time. About 25,000 people come here every year, and now this number is expected to increase by 10%. The construction of this road will have an economic chain effect,” Nikol Pashinyan said, adding that our country boasted a 43% increase in inbound tourism, while some 1.9 million foreign tourists arrived in Armenia last year.

“This means that we have increased the level of our national security, since the better our citizens know their homeland, the more their perception of the homeland changes,” the Prime Minister said.

The Head of Government next visited the arboretum to get acquainted with the species of trees growing here. He sowed cedar seeds, which will be planted on October 10 as part of his initiative to plant 10 million trees countrywide. The Premier called on our compatriots to follow his example, sow the seeds of their own trees and plant them.

Aida Aghajanyan, a student from Charentsavan Secondary School No. 2, joined the Prime Minister, who wrote a letter to the Minister of the Environment Eric Grigoryan about the need to plant trees throughout Armenia. Aida Aghajanyan sowed ash seeds. Tree seeds were also sown by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and Minister of the Environment Eric Grigoryan.

According to Mr. Grigoryan, the idea of planting 10 million trees has to do with 10 million Armenians living around the world. The Minister noted that now we are interconnected by something new that will be a driving force behind unity. The Prime Minister followed up: “You can plant a tree in the name of a loved one, relative, parent, ancestors. We need to invest spiritual, civic and national contents. We invite all Diaspora Armenians to take part in this initiative. Dear compatriots, 10 million trees shall thereby be planted by 10 million Armenians on the 10th day of the 10th month.”

The Head of Government discussed development prospects with Arboretum’s representatives, highlighting the need for consistent work to attract tourists. Nikol Pashinyan praised the work done by Arboretum Manager Vitaly Leonovich and instructed to present him with a state award.