ArmenPress
Jan 21 2005
SCCP SUPPORTS PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTERS
TBILISI, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: The Eurasia Foundation’s South
Caucasus Cooperation Program (SCCP) has announced continued support
to a network of three Public Environmental Information Centers.
Established with SCCP support, the Centers aim to protect
trans-boundary water systems by raising public awareness about
environmental and water protection issues in the Debet-Khrami river
basin. The Centers are located in Bolnisi, Georgia, Akhtala, Armenia
and Kazakh, Azerbaijan.
SCCP will provide three grants totaling $122,704 to the
implementing partners: Environmental Survival (Armenia), the Society
of Regional Studies (Azerbaijan) and CENN (Georgia). The partners
will continue public awareness activities targeting community
members, businesses, and local governments in the Debet-Khrami river
basin.
The partners will conduct regular thematic seminars on
environmental issues and hold a series of national roundtables to
discuss pressing environmental issues. To facilitate a cross-border
exchange of information, they will also organize quarterly seminars
for Center staff and representatives of the mass media from all three
countries. Additionally, the partners will publish local-language
water monitoring handbooks and organize volunteer water monitoring
groups. These activities will further encourage in-country
partnerships among the public, businesses, and local governments and
develop cross-border venues for more open information exchange and
cooperation concerning environmental issues.
The Eurasia Foundation established the South Caucasus Cooperation
Program in 1998 to facilitate contact and encourage collaboration
among leading organizations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Since its inception in 1998, the South Caucasus Cooperation
Program has awarded more than 300 grants totaling more than $4
million in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in support local
initiatives in civil society, private enterprise development, and
public administration and policy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress