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The Minister of Emergency Situations Davit Tonoyan stated the lack of connectivity and telecommunication infrastructure in the territory of Khosrov State Reserve caused certain difficulties during the extinguishing activities of the wildfire broke out in the forest.

Minister Tonoyan’s remarks came at a press conference on Thursday attended also by the Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan to provide updates on the damages inflicted on the forest during the wildfire. 

To remind, a major fire broke out in Armenia’s Khosrov Forest State Reserve (located some 60 kilometers southeast of Yerevan) on August 12, consuming several hundred hectares. The wildfire was extinguished by the Russian firefighting aircraft in coordination with the Armenian firefighting and rescue teams.

“After a couple of hours [the fire broke out] the MES established a digital connection in the territory of the state reserve, yet it only served to the MES rescue teams,” Tonoyan said, adding at the instruction of the country’s President and Prime Ministers negotiations were held with telecom operators to equip the territory of the Khosrov State Reserve with permanent mobile connection.

Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan, in turn, noted negotiations are currently underway with operators to determine the specific locations where the base stations are to be deployed. The minister expressed hope the matter will be solved in the coming 20 days.

Apart from that, the ministers informed discussion are underway to install Wi-Fi devices in the territory of the state reserve that would contribute to monitoring activities and the fight against poaching.  The program is envisaged to be implemented with funding from private investment and grant projects.