Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenia Tree Project
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 0026
Tel: (37410) 44-74-01
Web:
Armenia Tree Project
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
May 23, 2006
ATP Breathes Life Into Environmental Education in Armenia by Organizing
Training for Teachers and Tree-Planting Guidance for Communities
YEREVAN–After publishing its environmental education curriculum, `Plant an
Idea, Plant a Tree,’ for public school students, Armenia Tree Project (ATP)
sponsored a special teacher training course on April 25-29 to explain how to
use the teacher’s manual.
A total of 16 teachers from Yerevan and the regions of Syunik, Lori, and
Kotayk participated in the `Training of Trainers,’ organized by Dr. Gayane
Ghukasyan, ATP Environmental Education Program Manager.
In his welcoming speech, ATP Director of Operations Vache Kirakosyan
emphasized the importance of teaching the environmental education curriculum
in local schools, and thanked all attendees for participating with ATP.
`Your cooperation is very important to increase the awareness of
environmental issues, specifically among Armenia’s youth,’ he stated. `As a
result of our work together, we may reap fruit in the very near future. The
assistance received from such motivated and devoted educators as yourselves
is another step toward improving the ecological situation in our country.’
All lessons were based on the contents of ATP’s environmental education
curriculum, which is available online at
The lessons were designed for
students in grades 4-9 in more than 1,400 schools throughout Armenia.
The workshop was also attended by Artashes Torosyan and Marine Aghajanyan
from the Ministry of Education and Science, Amalia Poghosyan from the
Armenia Social Investment Fund, and ATP supporter Joseph Matossian of
California.
The honored guests expressed their appreciation and admiration to the
teachers and the presenters. Artashes Torosyan expressed his confidence in
the preparation of the teachers, who will be going on from the workshop to
conduct similar training for their colleagues.
Vache Kirakosyan presented `Certificates of Participation’ to each of the
trainees, thanking them for their input and enthusiasm during the workshop.
Anonymous evaluation sheets revealed that the participants were very pleased
with the content and process of the training.
`It would be an honor for me to continue collaborating with the ATP
Environmental Education Program, as I feel this gives me an overall
understanding of a new methodology along with practical advice which I will
definitely apply in my teaching activity,’ wrote one teacher in the
evaluation. Another teacher believed the program should be expanded to the
governmental level under the slogan `Our Planet Belongs to Us.’
In addition to the environmental education training course, ATP’s Spring
tree planting campaign was accompanied by trainings organized by the
Community Tree Planting (CTP) Program at 19 sites all over Armenia. A total
of 1,334 community residents participated in the ATP trainings.
To ensure a high survival rate of trees at sites, ATP created guidelines on
tree planting and care. Prior to planting, CTP staff distributed the
information to local residents and trained them on topics such as the
special care different varieties of trees require, proper depth for planting
new seedlings, how often to irrigate seedlings, and how to monitor the
growth of the trees.
According to ATP site monitor Seyran Honhannisyan, `I was astonished to see
the children so well acquainted with planting techniques. Our training
allowed the children to get not only theoretical but also practical
knowledge. While putting seedlings in the soil, they were asking us great
questions regarding insects, plant diseases, and applicable pesticides, so
we had an opportunity to educate them even further on tree care.’
PHOTO CAPTIONS
1. (EE training.jpg) Armenia Tree Project organized a training course to
show teachers from Syunik, Lori, Kotayk, and Yerevan how to use its new
environmental education curriculum
2. (Kurtan village.jpg) Armenia Tree Project staff organized a training and
tree planting with the kindergarten class at Kurtan village
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAREL DE GUCHT: I’M NOT A PESSIMIST, BUT NOT AN EXCESSIVE OPTIMIST, EITHER
ArmRadio.am
23.05.2006 15:58
“I’m not a pessimist, but I’m not that optimistic about reaching mutual
concessions in the Karabakh issue in 2006,” declared Karel de Gucht,
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Belgium.
In his words, the OSCE takes every effort to have the parties come
to a common solution of the Karabakh issue. Sometimes the hope for
soon settlement reinforces, sometimes weakens.
“Everything depends on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, they should come
to an agreement themselves, the OSCE can only provide assistance,”
Karel de Gucht underlined.
He noted also that the resolution of the conflict is sometimes hindered
by side circumstances, which worsen the situation. One of these side
circumstances in the Karabakh issue is the closed Armenian-Turkish
border, which hinders the settlement of the issue. As for the prospects
of resolution, the OSCE Chairman advises to be optimistic in any case.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN: ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR IS SPREAD IN ARMENIA
Yerevan, May 22. ArmInfo. An atmosphere of fear is spread in Armenia,
the Armenian parliament speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan told today in
the Parliament, having declared about his resignation.
According to Baghdasaryan, much have been done for the past
three years, however, a number of problems still remain unsolved,
particularly, a sad state of the border regions of the country and the
area of Spitak earthquake. He emphasized that disagreements with the
republic’s ruling coalition appeared a year ago. These disagreements
were aggravated more and more for a number of reasons.
Particularly, Baghdasaryan paid attention to the demographic crisis
in the country, which threatens the national security, to the problem
of corruption and other issues. The speaker sees the Armenia’s future
in the European Union and not in the Russia-Byelorussia Union. At
the same time, he is a follower of active relations development with
Russia. He promised to call, during the further work, concrete names
and facts concerning the available problems.
As for the decision about the party’s withdrawal from the coalition,
A. Baghdasaryan reminded that 21 attempts were made to discredit the
“Orinats Yerkir” party’s name for the past three years. As a result,
the party itself decided to leave the coalition. As for the RA
President Robert Kocharyan and the Defense Minister Serzh Sarkissyan,
the party was always respectful to them as to political figures,
speaker said.
To be noted, based upon the Law about the RA Parliament Regulations,
the Parliament Chairman has to confirm his resignation during the
nearest five days. On the basis of the existing legislation clauses,
the duties of the Armenian Parliament speaker will be fulfilled by
the RA Parliament Vice Speaker Tigran Torossyan.

ROBERT SIMMONS HIGHLY ESTIMATES PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF NATO-ARMENIA IPAP
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Robert Simmons,
Special Representative of NATO Secretary General on South Caucasian
Issues, paid a visit to Armenia on May 22. The same day he was
received by Arman Kirakosian, Deputy RA Foreign Minister. Summing
up the working meeting of NATO representatives and members of the
Interdepartmental Commission on the Armenian Individual Partnership
Actions Plan (IPAP) held on May 18-19, the Special Representative of
NATO Secretary General highly estimated the process of implementation
of NATO-Armenia IPAP mentioning that in a short period Armenia has
passed a considerable way in the issue of carrying out the IPAP program
provisions. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, Arman Kirakosian said that cooperation
with NATO and participation in IPAP and Partnership for Peace is
one of the important components of the Armenian security system. In
this respect he attached importance to extension of the political
dialogue with NATO and to implementation of the respective reforms in
the country’s defence sphere, including working out the conception
of the national security. The sides also attached importance to
notification of wide circles of the society about NATO’s goals and
policy, in particular, about Armenia-NATO cooperation. RA Deputy
Foreign Minister in general outline presented the last developments
in the direction of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
the current state of Armenia-Turkey relations. After the meeting with
Arman Kirakosian Robert Simmons took part in the regular sitting of
the Interdepartmental Commission created by the order of RA Prime
Minister for the purpose of implementation of IPAP. Simmons briefly
presented the commission members the preliminary results of the IPAP
implementation intermediate estimation visit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS HELD IN 5 SYUNIK VILLAGES
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
KAPAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Elections of village head and councillors
were held on May 21 in 5 village communities of Syunik region
electoral district N 38. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
from district electoral commission N 38, Albert Beglarian, member
of the Republican Party of Armenia, was elected head of the village
community of Vardanidzor, RPA member Varuzhan Tumanian in Aldara,
non-partisan Sasun Zakarian in Lehvaz, non-partisan Mkrtich Mkrtchian
in Nyuvadi. Zhora Khachatrian, one of the candidates of head the
community of Yegheg, received 33 votes and the next one, Valery
Mayilian, 32 votes. The empowered person of the latter has submitted
an application-complaint to the district electoral commission.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGRICULTURE SUPPORT FUND ELECTED PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Srbuhi Vanian
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
23 May 2006
Recently the NKR Fund for Rural Areas and Agriculture Support was
established. The NKR government set up this fund to enable the
involvement of research and strategic programs in agriculture. One
of the functions of the fund is to hold seminars and conferences, as
well as support poor families in rural areas. The fund is a non-profit
organization, but under its bylaws it can run business to direct the
profit to the implementation of goals, set down in the bylaws. On May
19 the first meeting of the board of trustees of the fund was held to
elect president of the board and director. The board has 11 members,
7 showed up at the meeting. The NKR minister of agriculture said
the board of trustees includes representatives of the parliament,
the government, companies, running businesses in various branches of
agriculture. The board of trustees elected Minister of Agriculture
V. Baghdassarian president of the board, T. Gabrielian was appointed
director. The president of the board of trustees proposed to include
a point in the bylaws of the fund to enable it to hold auctions. On
the request of the members of the board, the minister of agriculture
presented the programme of agricultural machinery pool implemented
in Martakert by Armenia Fund and the programmes of the Association
of Proprietors.
The minister mentioned that the programme is complicated and large
in scope, for they deal with over 6000 proprietors, each with their
interests and opinions. V. Baghdasaryan thinks it is equally important
to control the process, therefore a managing council was set up,
including 4 members from the NKR government and Armenia Fund.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A 70-MINUTE FILM ABOUT “TURKISH GENOCIDE” DISSEMINATED IN RUSSIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006
Turkey keeps on distorting facts as it fights international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.
Another manifestation of this policy came into sight in Russia where,
by the way, the Genocide is recognized by the State Duma. But that was
no obstacle for Komersant-Dengi journal to insert a 70-minute film on
the “Turkish genocide committed by the Armenians” in its recent issue.
Speaking to daily Azg, Ara Abrahamian, chairman of the Armenians of
Russia, labeled the film “absurd” that does not deserve to be commented
on but added that they wait for explanation from the Russian magazine.
Mr. Abrahamian said that there is no man by the name of the ad owner
as the publishing house gave it. He said that the Union works with
the Armenian Embassy in Moscow to find who is behind the ad.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VERBAL DUEL IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND SERZH SARKISYAN HAVE DESTROYED ORINATS YERKIR?
Regnum, Russia
May 22 2006
Speeches of opposition National Unity (NU) Party and parliamentary
faction Leader Artashes Geghamian and ex-Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan,
who announced his resignation on the same day, turned into a verbal
duel in raised voices.
In particular, speaking before the MPs, Artashes Geghamian stated
that “Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sarkisyan succeeded in destroying
Orinats Yerkir (OE) Party (Head – Artur Bagdassaryan) within several
days.” “Artur Bagdassaryan says that atmosphere of fear has developed
in the country, may be the atmosphere hinders him in revealing true
information that exactly Kocharyan and Sarkisyan have forced him to
reject speaker’s post; otherwise, why he does not call for a vote of
confidence?” he stressed.
Artur Bagdassaryan, who had returned into the session hall at the
moment, sharply retorted that nobody led the OYe out of the ruling
coalition. “We have decided it by ourselves. Much is said in the
hall about President Kocharyan. Yes, we state that we supported his
candidature during first and second rounds of presidential elections
in 2003 because such political figures appeared, who suddenly stopped
to be opposition in the second round (OYe did not support opposition
candidate Stepan Demirchyan in second round of 2003 presidential
elections – REGNUM). Also, very much was said about Serzh Sarkisyan,
but he has been illegally financing you. You fulfill order, why you
were absent when we were speaking about privatization and other vital
important questions?” Artur Bagdassaryan asked himself.
In his turn, Artashes Geghamian proposed Bagdassaryan to take Serzh
Sarkisyan into court as a briber, and Bagdassaryan as bribe-taker.
Effusive sorting out of the parties’ relationship continued some time
else. After that the parties agreed to continue “the duel” on air of
one of Armenian TV-channels.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTRUCTION OF 22.5 KM LONG SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE TO BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST
Regnum, Russia
May 22 2006
The ArmRosgazprom Company intends to complete construction of 22.5
km of the first 47 km long section of the Iran-Armenia pipeline,
ArmRosgazprom Director General Karen Karapetyan announced at a
meeting with the press on May 22. According to him, the agreement
on construction of the 22.5 km long section worth $2.7 million was
signed by the company and Arvandan Company (Iran).
“After finalizing construction of the first section of the Iran-Armenia
pipeline, it will be connected to ArmRosgazprom gas system,” Karen
Karapetyan noted adding that ArmRosgazprom will have to increase
carrying capacity of its pipes, in particular, by extending the
diameter. “We do not know yet, how it will be financed, probably,
from the Armenian state budget, probably, by the Iranian side, or,
maybe, with the help of new investors,” Karen Karapetyan noted.
As he said, all the countries in the region experience deficit in
energy. “From this point of view, Armenia has an opportunity to
become a liberal place, as there is untapped energy potential and a
brilliant perspective to supply energy particularly to Iran, Iraq,
Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan,” Karen Karapetyan pointed out.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER STEPS DOWN
ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, May 22 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian parliamentary speaker Artur
Bagdasarian resigned on Monday.
Earlier, the right-wing party Orinats Erkir (The Country of Law)
he heads decided to withdraw from the ruling political coalition to
join the Opposition.
Bagdasarian, who is known for his pro-western stands, had repeatedly
disagreed with the Armenian authorities on major issues of interior
and foreign policies.
The 38-year Bagdasarian has occupied this post since June 2003.
Bagdasarian deems it “important and necessary” to expand the country’s
Euroatlantic integration.
“We consider it necessary to boost relations with the European Union
and Armenian-U.S. cooperation,” he said.
“We have two paths to follow – to be in the same union with Russia
and Belarus and have good relations with the EU, or to be in the
EU and have good relations with Russia. We choose the second path,”
Bagdasarian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress