Author: Babajanian Karo

“WE HAVE NO FATE BECAUSE OF THE GOLD UNDER OUR FEET”, SAY THE PEOPLE OF ARMANIS

Noyan Tapan
11.05.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 11.05.2011) It is already three years that in Armanis
village of Stepanavan district of Lori region blasting jobs are
carried out in the polymetallic mine to take out the gold.

As the president of the “Lore” Ecoclub Manya Melikjanyan noted during
the interview with the reporter of Noyan Tapan that the blasting
jobs damage the local landscape and in those places where there were
pastures, forests and endemic plants grew in the past, now there are
deep holes there. Besides, as there are also Uranium resources in the
mine of Armanis, a radiation is caused due to the landscape changes.

These jobs have resulted in the discontent of the residents of
Armanis, many of them are even not aware of the imminent danger
to their health. At the same time they noticed that cattle milking
capacity has reduced during the recent two years.

The way they neutralize the refuses of the explosions is another
danger for the nature and especially for the animal world. According
to M. Melikjanyan they are either buried or thrown to Dzoraget. In
the two cases the damage is tremendous: water resources and biosphere
are damaged.

The president of the Ecoclub also mentioned another important fact:
the absence of ecologists in the staff of the company which exploits
the mine. “Before the annihilation refuses should be checked by
ecologists, toxic materials and heavy metals should be dissevered in
order not to damage the nature”, said M. Melikjanyan.

The shakes and dust from blasts also concern the residents of Armenis,
because of which their houses turn into damaged structures. However,
as it turned out, this is the smallest evil only. Villagers are made
to sell their own lands, since, as the local residents say, “We have
no fate because of the gold under our feet”. Besides, the company
which exploits the mine offers a slight price for the land: 25000
AMD for square meter. Once one of the residents of Armanis refused
to sell his land and the owner of the mine ordered to dig the land
which surrounded him and the landlord couldn’t go out for a long time.

The goldmine of Armanis was discovered during the years of the Soviet
Union, but the local government, realizing that it might be disastrous
for the environment, prevented the exploitation. By the way, a factory
for gold recycling has worked since the beginning of 2011, which will
double the danger according to M. Melikjanyan.

Let’s mention that the reporter of Noyan Tapan and the president of
“Lore” Ecoclub tried to meet the head of the “Sagamar” Ltd which
exploits the mine to be informed about the possible solution to the
problems mentioned above, but the head refused every time and didn’t
answer the letters addressed to him.

FRENCH DISPLAY NO INTEREST IN AZERBAIJAN’S STANCE ON KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 11, 2011 – 16:57 AMT

At the initiative of the Azerbaijani Diaspora, the French Institute
of International Relations (IFRI) hosted a conference on the Karabakh
conflict in Paris. The event brought together 48 people, a confidential
source told PanARMENIAN.Net

Tabib Huseynov, allegedly a native of Shushi and holder of Master’s
Degree in International Relations and European Studies from the
Budapest-based Central European University, presented his views
on Karabakh.

Basically, Azerbaijani students attended the event, along with French
researchers. Pro-Azerbaijani ex-member of the Swedish parliament
Goran Lidblad was also present at the event. The Azerbaijani side
organized the event rather well, but failed in cheating the attendees,
especially, after the speech of Azerbaijani Ambassador to France
Elchin Amirbeyov, who started disseminating anti-Armenian propaganda.

However, the French side did not attach importance to the Azerbaijanis’
speeches, and not a report was published. IFRI was represented only
by Philippe Moreau-Defarges, a researcher and co-director of RAMSES
publication.

The source noted that Azerbaijan exerted huge efforts to organize
the conference in response to the March conference of IFRI with
participation of President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan.

“The anti-Armenian propaganda of Azerbaijan has no limits,” the
source concluded.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES SENDING MORE PEACEKEEPERS TO AFGHANISTAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 11, 2011 – 11:30 AMT

With 81 votes in favor, the Armenian National Assembly approved the
agreement, which envisages increase in number of Armenian peacekeepers
in Afghanistan and extension of deployment.

According to the agreement, the Armenian contingent will continue
the service till December 31, 2012, the number reaching 130 instead
of the current 45, a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from
the parliament.

Georgia and Azerbaijan have over 900 and 94 peacekeepers in Afghanistan
respectively.

TURKISH OPPOSITION SEEKS SUPPORT OF NATIONAL MINORITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 11, 2011 – 12:12 AMT

The Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Deputy President and Foreign
Politics Representative Osman Koruturk and General Secretary Bihlun
Tamaylıgil paid a visit to Fener Greek Patriarchy and the Armenian
Patriarchy of Turkey.

While the officials’ visit to Fener Greek Patriarchy took half an hour,
their visit to the Armenians Patriarchy of Turkey took approximately
an hour and half.

When asked to comment by Turkish media on “the incidents of 1915”,
Koruturk said: “Both of the sides experienced agonies, it would
be unjust to say they are one-sided. As two rival parties the CHP,
and Justice and Development Party, or AKP, we brought on the agenda
the proposal of establishing a history commission. Nevertheless,
the proposal was not approved in Armenia.”

Answering the question why Arev Cebeci putting candidacy from CHP on
behalf of the Armenian community could not be elected, Koruturk said
they do not separate people according to their identities. “More
than 4,300 people applied and 550 of them won. We do not have an
Armenian deputy in Parliament on behalf of our party. However, we
have Armenian-origin citizens taking positions in the administration
of CHP and local levels.”

Explaining why the visit to the Armenian Patriarchy of Turkey took
a longer span of time, Koruturk said: “They had a long agenda
to discuss. We have comprehensive projects, family insurance,
agriculture projects and economic projects. These projects would
change the country throughout.”

One of the presidents of Istanbul Armenian Foundation Bedros
Marzubanyan showing at the meeting said the recent statements of
CHP leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu upset the Armenian community. “Some
people said Kılıcdaroglu’s mother is an Armenian from Dersim and
he tried to prove his mother is not an Armenian. I would like to ask
him whether being an Armenian is really such a bad thing after all.”

Bedros Å~^irinoglu, the president of the Yedikule Surp Pırgic Hospital
Foundation, which ranks in second place in the protocol following the
patriarchate, did not attend the meeting, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

PUBLIC TV AND PUBLIC RADIO TO COOPERATE WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Sona Hakobyan

“Radiolur”
11.05.2011 16:20

An agreement was signed between the Ministry of Education and Science
and the Council of Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia
today. The agreement aims to ensure diversity of educational, cultural,
children’s, scientific and historic programs on Public TV.

Under the agreement the Ministry organizes and conducts the “Hay Aspet”
(Armenian Knight) program, provides a series of educational animation
films translated into Armenian, as well as social ads.

The Council of Television and Radio Company undertakes to ensure
their broadcasting on Public TV and Public Radio. At the same time
the programs aired on Public TV and Radio will refer to the policy
in the field of education and science.

The cooperation with the Ministry of Education will be reflected in
the films and serials, as well, said Alexan Harutyunyan, President
of the Council of Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia

Hellenic Resources Network
Saturday, 3 April 2004

Various Turkish Quotes, beginning with multiple quotes from the 3 rulers of
wartime Turkey, Cemal Pasha, Enver Pasha and Talat Pasha.

Enver Pasha
One of the triumvirate rulers publicly declared on 19 May 1916…

The Ottoman Empire should be cleaned up of the Armenians and the Lebanese.
We have destroyed the former by the sword, we shall destroy the latter
through starvation.

In reply to US Ambassador Morgenthau who was deploring the massacres against
Armenians and attributing them to irresponsible subalterns and underlings in
the distant provinces, Enver’s reply was…

You are greatly mistaken. We have this country absolutely under our control.
I have no desire to shift the blame onto our underlings and I am entirely
willing to accept the responsibility myself for everything that has taken
place.

Talat Pasha
In a conversation with Dr. Mordtmann of the German Embassy in June 1915…

Turkey is taking advantage of the war in order to thoroughly liquidate
(grundlich aufzaumen) its internal foes, i.e., the indigenous Christians,
without being thereby disturbed by foreign intervention.
After the German Ambassador persistently brought up the Armenian question in
1918, Talat said “with a smile”…
What on earth do you want? The question is settled. There are no more
Armenians.

Cemal Pasha
To a German officer upon seeing the deportations in Mamure said…

I am ashamed of my nation (Ich schame mich fur meine Nation)

Cemal
Minister of the Interior of Turkey publicly declared on March 15 that on the
basis of computations undertaken by Ministry Experts…

800,000 Armenian deportees were actually killed…by holding the guilty
accountable the government is intent on cleansing the bloody past.

Prince Abdul Mecid
Heir-Apparent to the Ottoman Throne, during an interview…

I refer to those awful massacres. They are the greatest stain that has ever
disgraced our nation and race. They were entirely the work of Talat and
Enver. I heard some days before they began that they were intended. I went
to Istanbul and insisted on seeing Enver. I asked him if it was true that
they intended to recommence the massacres which had been our shame and
disgrace under Abdul Hamid. The only reply I could get from him was: ‘It is
decided. It is the program.’

Grand Vezir Damad Ferid Pasha
Equivalent rank in the US would be head of the cabinet I think. He described
the treatment of the Armenians as…

A crime that drew the revulsion of the entire humankind.

Mustafa Arif
Minister of Interior stated on 13 December 1918…

Surely a few Armenians aided and abetted our enemy, and a few Armenian
Deputies committed crimes against the Turkish nation… it is incumbent upon
a government to pursue the guilty ones. Unfortunately, our wartime leaders,
imbued with a spirit of brigandage, carried out the law of deportation in a
manner that could surpass the proclivities of the most bloodthirsty bandits.
They decided to exterminate the Armenians, and they did exterminate them.

Armenia opposition leader says power change imminent

A1+ web site
31 Mar 04

Correspondent Mr Demirchyan leader of the Anrapetutyun Party and
Justice bloc only yesterday leader of the National Unity Party ,
Artashes Gegamyan refused to agree on the dates set by the Justice
bloc. How did you manage to hammer out an agreement just in one day?

Demirchyan I do not think its right to talk about the process because
the main thing is the result confirmed by a statement issued a few
days ago.

Correspondent According to British pundits, there will be no velvet
revolution here because the opposition cannot still decide on its
leader and is not united. One gets the impression that the problem of
the leader was put on the back burner. Could we say that a change in
power is inevitable?

Demirchyan The public wants the power to change and the constitutional
order to be restored. Both the Justice bloc and the National Unity,
which fully realize their responsibility, have decided to join their
efforts, moreover, this pr ocess has been launched long ago on the day
when parliament issued the statement. The power will be changed as
this is what the public needs. It is not important what various
experts come up with. As to the so-called topic of the leader, this
will be decided by the people: leaders are not born on wish and
artificially. This is decided by the people.

Correspondent That is to say, after the change of power will the
opposition leaders act separately or put forward a single candidate?

Demirchyan Let us wait and see.

Correspondent In his interview with us Defence Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan threatened “to beat the opposition up” and raise the army
“to protect law and order with all the might”. What is your comment?

Demirchyan Under the constitution, the army’s task is to protect the
country’s security but not order. And subsequently, the army cannot
interfere in domestic affairs. Moreover, I believe that neither the
law-enforcement agencies nor the army will ever take up arms against
the people. Finally, I do not differentiate between the power-wielding
bodies and our people. There are individuals who might decide to
resort to such steps, but they should understand that they will be
called to book with all severity.

Correspondent What is your attitude to hasty appointments and
reshuffle?

Demirchyan This is how the authorities are preparing for pending
processes. It would be wrong to expect the results simply by making
some personnel changes. The authorities should understand one thing
that one cannot fight against his own people.

© Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street, London N1 9LH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7713 7130 Fax: +44 (0)20 7713 7140

New Dawn for Armenian Cinema?

Privatisation of state film studio could herald revival of a once-thriving
industry.

By Naira Melkumian in Yerevan (CRS No. 224, 27-Mar-04)

Armenia’s crumbling movie industry looks set to be revived after years of
neglect as wealthy businessmen vie for the right to buy the state film
studio.

Two ethnic Armenian millionaire businessmen – Ara Abramian and Jerald
Kafesdzhan, based in Russia and America respectively – are bidding for the
Armenfilm studio and the right to continue the country’s long tradition of
filmmaking.

Abramian, who chairs the Union of Armenians in Russia, is believed to have
the upper hand at the moment, having offered a seven million US dollar
package – one million for the studio, with a further six million investment
in digital technology.

The privatisation of the studio has prompted a new debate on the state of
the Armenian film and television industry.

Rudolf Vatinian, chairman of the State Theatre and Cinema Institute’s cinema
department and a member of the Armenian Film-makers Union, told IWPR that
Abramian’s bid was especially interesting.

“I think that establishing new links with Russia and the introduction of
digital technology – especially in television production – will revive
viewers’ interest in Armenian cinema,” he said.

The 80-year-old industry has been in steady decline for a number of years,
having reached its peak in the Seventies and early Eighties, when around ten
films a year were produced alongside countless documentaries and made-for TV
productions.

In recent years, however, the output has dwindled dramatically. A social
crisis in the early Nineties, which followed the collapse of the Soviet
Union, led to state assistance drying up almost completely. When funds
stopped arriving from Moscow, Armenia’s fledgling government was unable to
spare any money.

“This lack of finance led to a breakdown in the industry – specialists left
and the technology became badly outdated,” said Vatinian. “This is a shame,
as cinema is the ideal democratic language to represent the Armenian people
abroad.”

For 2004, 600,000 dollars has been earmarked for the state cinema budget – a
tenth of the amount given to the television industry. As a result, the
quality of films produced is low.

Susanna Arutiunian, president of the Armenian Cinema Specialists and
Journalists Association, said, “The state cannot provide for the national
film industry – it does not even have a cinema department, and only one
person is available to dealing with everything.”

Moreover, there is no legal framework to regulate the industry in Armenia –
deliberations on a cinema law have been ongoing for several years.

The low funding has led to a marked deterioration in the technical equipment
used. According to Arutiunian, the Armenfilm studio only has one serviceable
film camera – and there is a long queue to use it.

Filmmaker and director of the Yerevan studio Tigran Khzmalian said, “When
you try to produce a film under such conditions, where you lack the money
for a decent sound recording, the result will be nothing of quality.”

Granush Akopian, chairman of the parliamentary commission for science,
education and culture, admitted, “Armenian film production is in a miserable
state, as it has received very little investment in the last ten to fifteen
years.”

At the moment, only three cinemas operate in the country – all of them in
the capital, Yerevan – and have no difficulty attracting customers.

Tamara Movsisian, spokesperson for one of them, the Moskva cinema, told IWPR
that new and classic movies are in great demand. “In forty years we have
acquired a loyal audience, which takes a real interest in Armenian cinema,”
she said.

Analysts say that the revitalisation of the film industry is especially
important to prevent the next generation from rejecting Armenian history and
culture in favour of formulaic Hollywood films.

“We have rich history, and yet I don’t know of any historical films being
made in Armenia. Instead, the younger generation is growing up watching
foreign films,” said moviegoer Stepan Avakian from Yerevan.

In spite of the continuing economic problems, the sale of the state studio
could herald the beginning of a cinematic revival, and there are talented
young people on hand to take advantage of that.

“Once upon a time, our national cinema had a place in international
filmmaking. Our main objective today is to regain that position,” filmmaker
Mikael Dovlatian, one of the most exciting young directors in the country,
told IWPR.

Naira Melkumian is a freelance journalist based in Yerevan.

Cyprus Mail
March 27 2004

House opposes Melkonian shut down
By Staff Reporter

THE PLENUM yesterday unanimously opposed the Armenian General
Benevolent Union’s (AGBU) decision to shut down the Melkonian
Educational Institute (MEI) and urged the government to declare the
school a historical site.

The deputies said the 78-year-old Armenian school was as much part of
Cyprus’ cultural and historical heritage as the Armenians’. They
added it was their duty to `undertake the necessary initiative to
prevent the fait accompli its New York handlers are trying to
create’.

The vote comes after the AGBU recently announced its plans to close
down the school in June next year, claiming it no longer fulfilled
the duties it had been set up to carry out.

The Armenian community in Cyprus has claimed financial interests are
behind the school’s closure as preliminary estimates suggest the land
is worth £40 million.

The House of Representatives said the school was an important
educational and cultural institution that helped education and
cultivate young Armenians, as well as reinforcing their identity. The
deputies added that thought should have been given and action taken
on how to support the school rather than shut it down.

The plenum unanimously condemned the AGBU decision and called on the
government to declare the school building and its surroundings an
environment of historical and cultural importance, thus thwarting any
plans for its development.

CENN – MARCH 26, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Become a Member of the `Caucasus Environment Society’
2. Toxic waste threatens Caspian Sea
3. Information and Training Center Opens at the Ministry of Agriculture
4. An Online Advice in Obtaining Funding for Forestry Related Projects
5. NGO Financial Management

1. BECOME A MEMBER OF THE `CAUCASUS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY’
Dear users of CENN services!

This is to inform you that due to necessity of financial sustainability
of CENN activities in the long run, we are introducing a number of
innovations in CENN services (Internet services and online products of
CENN – daily digests, bulletins` archive, full online versions of
magazines, GIS database of nature resources of the Caucasus region,
environmental legislation of the South Caucasus States in national
English and Russian languages, etc.) for different types of members to
set force from March 25, 2004.

Only the members of the `Caucasus Environment Society’ will enjoy the
full range of our services. They will receive free of charge our
magazine `Caucasus Environment’, get free legal and environmental
consultancy, free access to CENN databases, maps, resources, etc.

All membership fees support the CENN magazine’s mission of expanding
environmental knowledge on the Caucasus and are considered as charitable

contribution to the production of the regional magazine.

We welcome you to become a Member of the `Caucasus Environment Society’
by registering online:

Annual membership fee for Caucasus citizens/organizations $19, for
international members – $39. Shipment cost included.

For any questions or queries regarding membership and future usage of
online services:

Contact person: Catherine Nakashidze
Tel: +995 32 92 39 46
Fax: +995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

2. TOXIC WASTE THREATENS CASPIAN SEA

Vast quantities of radioactive and toxic wastes stored not far from the
Caspian Sea threaten a nearby city and could infiltrate into the world’s

largest inland body of water, Kazakh scientists said.

The environmental deterioration in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region began
in the 1960s when the Soviet Union started extracting and processing
uranium there. The ore was processed at a chemical hydro-metallurgical
plant located not far from Aktau, the administrative center of the
region. The Prikaspiiskii mining and chemical enterprise, as it was
called, also included sulfuric acid and nitrogen fertilizer plants.

A uranium tailings dump was created in the drain-free settling pool at
Koshkar-Ata, 3 miles north of Aktau and 4.5 miles east of the Caspian.
Since 1965, liquid radioactive, toxic and industrial wastes and
unpurified ordinary domestic drains have been discharged into the
42-yard deep Koshkar-Ata repository, which has an area of 52 square
miles.

“Koshkar-Ata is filled with brine, containing an extended quantity of
contaminants and heavy metals,” said Kairat Kuterbekov, the scientific
secretary of the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s
capital.

Kuterbekov is the manager of the project called the “Overall Examination

of Ecological Situation at the Toxic Wastes Storage ‘Koshkar-Ata’ and
Development of Rehabilitation Actions.”

The brine at Koshkar-Ata contains up to 0.18 ounces of salts per a cubic

foot, Kuterbekov told United Press International.

The production process stopped in the early 1990s and Koshkar-Ata
started to dry up. So far, some 13.8 square miles have dried up,
creating toxic dust that is blown into the atmosphere.

In 1991, the International Commission on Radiological Protection issued
recommendations that included limiting radiation dosages to members of
the public to less than 0.1 rem per year.

A rem measures the amount of damage to human tissue from a dose of
ionizing radiation. Across most of Koshkar-Ata, the exposure dose, as
recorded by sensors, is 0.4 rems. In some of the area, the exposure is
1,500 micro-roentgens per hour –equivalent to 13.0 rems per year.

When the dump was active, in addition to liquid wastes, the Soviets
buried 115 million tons of solid wastes, including 57 million tons of
radioactive wastes, Kuterbekov said. The radiation exposure on those
plots of land — 5,000 micro-roentgens per hour — exceeds the limiting
dose by more than 400 times.

“The radioactive wastes are represented by a natural series of
uranium-238; the most toxic among them are uranium-235, radium-226 and
thorium-230,” Kuterbekov explained.

Uranium and its decay products, including thorium, radium and radon — a

radioactive gas — can be dangerous substances if not properly stored or

isolated. Yet local residents have been digging out the radioactive
metal trying to sell it to scrap dealers. The dealers refuse to buy it
because of its radioactivity, so the frustrated sellers discard it
anywhere, Kuterbekov said.

“A large quantity of heavy metals — copper, zinc, nickel — and
rare-earth elements have been found in the bottom sediment,” he added.

Heavy metals can damage living creatures at low concentrations and tend
to accumulate in the food chain.

Last year, the effects of the radioactive and toxic dust were not as
damaging to Aktau, a city with a population of 185,000 on the coast of
the Caspian. However, 2003 was atypical because of a relatively large
amount of precipitation and because the prevailing winds blew away from
the city, Kuterbekov said.

Underground water is another worry because there is the potential to
contaminate the Caspian, he said. About 17 square miles of the tailing
dump are still covered with water, and five countries surround the
Caspian — Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran.

A specialist, who did not want to be identified, told UPI those
concentrations some elements — including iron, molybdenum, manganese,
cadmium, selenium, ammonium and fluorine — have been found to exceed
maximum permissible levels within 1.8 to 2.25 miles of the tailing dump
in the Caspian direction.

The repository represents “a huge and immediate threat to the Caspian
ecosystem,” Boris Golubov, a Russian scientist wrote in his article “The

Caspian: Receptacle for Radiation” published in the quarterly “Give &
Take” in 2001.

Moreover, “in addition to “man-made” sources of radiation, the Caspian
ecosystem collects and stores high levels of natural radioactive
nuclides,” Golubov wrote. “Caspian waters, bottom sediments, and living
organisms contain levels of uranium five to seven times higher than
those in other seas.”

“(The) situation of nuclear wastes in Kazakhstan is disastrous for the
local people and the Caspian Sea in general,” said Bahman Aghai Diba, a
consultant on international law for the World Resources Company in
McLean, Va.

The nuclear wastes are kept in substandard conditions and there is
possibility of infiltration into the sea, Aghai Diba told UPI.

Scientists intend to supply soil to the former bottom to stimulate plant

growth, Kuterbekov said, adding this way to solve the problem had been
chosen because of it was relatively cheap.
United Press International, March 25, 2004

3. INFORMATION AND TRAINING CENTER OPENS AT THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

On March 24, 2004 the Government of Armenia and the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) opened the Information and Training Center at

the Ministry of Agriculture and signed a Memorandum of Understanding
outlining the support that UNDP will provide for the “First Agro-Forum”
International Conference. Mr. Samvel Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of
Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident
Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative presided over the event.

By supporting the Information and Training Center, UNDP is assisting the

Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen its capacity in information
management. Internet services will be provided at the Information
Center, helping the Ministry access the most up-to-date and important
information on agricultural issues from around the world, and training
will be conducted to ensure that Ministry staff has advanced information

skills.

In addition to supporting the establishment of the new Center, UNDP is
also supporting the country’s “First Agro-Forum” International
Conference, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. The aim of this
important conference is to promote agricultural development in Armenia
by introducing the most progressive and innovative agricultural methods
from around the world. An official website is being developed for the
Conference and an information campaign will be conducted. The fourth
“AgroProdExpo” International Exhibition will be held at the same time as

the Conference. According to Ms. Grande: “The development of agriculture

in Armenia cannot be underestimated. A large part of the population
lives in rural communities and agriculture is the main source of income
for many Armenian families. By strengthening the capacities of the
Ministry of Agriculture and helping to promote agricultural development,

we are helping to reduce poverty and inequality in Armenia. We hope that

the Ministry staff will use this new Information Center to successfully
communicate with the general public, including the mass media.”

Mr. Avetisian noted: “Our cooperation with UNDP has a long history, and
we are grateful that resolution of the problems raised by the Ministry
is always supported by our counterpart. The Information Center, the
network and the website will promote the Ministry of Agriculture
worldwide, and we are confident that this will help us forge effective
partnerships with international and local organizations, bilateral
donors, foreign governments and private companies.”

The “First Agro-Forum” International Conference and the fourth
“AgroProdExpo” International Exhibition will be held in Yerevan on
October 28-29, 2004.
ArmenPress, March 24 2004

4. AN ONLINE ADVICE IN OBTAINING FUNDING FOR FORESTRY RELATED PROJECTS

Dear Colleagues,

The National Forest Program Facility and the Collaborative Partnership
on Forests (CPF) have the pleasure to announce a new web-initiative
called: “Advice in obtaining funding for forestry related
projects” .

The new site with the database and the forums has been set-up to support

you in your search for funds for your forestry related projects
(forestry in general, sustainable forest management, forest
conservation, forest products, training and scholarships in forestry and

natural resources, etc.). The forums and the on-line moderator can help
you with your enquiries for specific funding, show you the website of
sources of funding, and increase your skills on how to apply for funds
more effectively. In return, you can contribute to the forums by posting

your information on available funding sources, ideas and experiences.

If you are interested in joining the forums please subscribe by clicking

the following link

The website to search for funds is available in 3 languages (English,
French and Spanish), but the forums themselves are for the time being
only operational in English language. French and Spanish messages to the

forums can be sent to the following e-mail address:
[email protected]

5. NGO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

What is financial management? How can you measure the quality of
financial management in your organization? This week Alex Jacobs
describes the building blocks of good money management and provides a
method for measurement to help you.

Do you have any “lessons learned” to exchange with other aid workers?
E-mail [email protected] or join the discussions online at

This article is available online at:

—
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CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: