ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St., tarzana, CA 91356
Tel/Fax:(818)586-0010
e-mail: info@arpainstitute.org
Website:

Press Release: Waste Management Conference in Armenia:

On September 25 and 26, 2008, a conference on waste management
organized jointly by the ARPA Institute, the State Engineering
University of Armenia (SEUA, formerly the Polytechnic Institute), and
the Ministry of Nature protection of Armenia, was held at the Nuclear
Training Center of the SEUA. Waste management is an enormously
important issue in Armenia as it is embarking on a course of rapid
economic growth. Opening remarks were made by the Deputy Minister of
Education and Science of Armenia, Hon. Bakrat Yesayan and
Prof. Vostanik Maroukhyan, president of the SEUA. The conference was
held under the direction of Prof. Laert Hovhannissyan, Pro-rector of
the SEUA. The local media was also invited. There were over 60
attendees from the government, academia, public and private
organizations, and graduate students. Presentations were made by local
experts from the Yerevan State University, the SEUA and other
universities, the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Ministry of
Education and Science and the Yerevan Municipality. As Yerevan and Los
Angeles are formally `Sister Cities,’ representatives from the City of
Los Angeles in the persons of Dr. Ara Kasparian, Director of the
Environmental Management Program, Bureau of Engineering, Department of
Public Works and Mr. Varouj Abkian, Assistant Director of Bureau of
Sanitation, Department of Public Works, City of Los Angeles, made
presentations on the current methodologies used for dealing with waste
management issues in Los Angeles. Both domestic and industrial waste
management were adressed in detail. At the conclusion of the
conference there was a panel discussion with the participation of
experts from Los Angeles and various experts from Armenia. Dr. Anahit
Alexandryan, the deputy Minister of the Ministry of Nature Protection,
who is in charge of hazardous waste management in the country and who
has been our liaison with the Government of Armenia, also made a
presentation stressing the importance of cooperation with International
organizations. Commitments for further cooperation and interactions
for the benefit of both Armenia and Los Angeles were made by the
organizers and the participants. For information and/or involvement in
activities of ARPA Institute please contact the above mentioned.