Author: Tvankchian Parkev

Detroit Free Press
Obituaries

Andree Burney: Taught French, English to many

May 6, 2004

BY JEANNE MAY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Andree Gregory Burney, who taught French and English to hundreds of students
in the Detroit area, died of cancer Sunday at Harper Hospital in Detroit.

She was 63 and lived in Plymouth.

After earning two bachelor’s degrees — in education and political science
— at Wayne State University, she started teaching there.

“She was in the College of Education, teaching other teachers how to teach
French,” her husband, Philip, said Wednesday. “She used the audio-lingual
method. They’d come into class, and she’d take their books away and speak
nothing but French to them.

“Both her children spoke both French and English always, and both passed
French in college without taking a course.”

After several years at Wayne State, Mrs. Burney took about a decade off to
rear her children, then went to the Lycee International School in Detroit,
where she taught English to students from overseas. She also taught English
to Armenian children at the Alex Manoogian School, and in the early ’70s,
she taught French at Oak Park High School.

>From there, she moved to Fordson High School in Dearborn, teaching French
there at the same time she taught it at Henry Ford Community College in
Dearborn. She retired in 2002.

She came by French naturally. She was born in Marseilles, France, in 1939 —
a year before Germany conquered France in World War II. Her family had fled
to France from their native Armenia.

When she was 2 years old, her father managed to get out of the country and
come to the United States, intending to send for his family.

But they were trapped.

“She could actually remember at nighttime going to the air-raid bomb
shelters, hearing the sirens,” her husband said.

In 1947, her family reunited in Dearborn, and she graduated from Fordson.

While she taught, she earned a master’s degree in linguistics at Wayne State
and a master’s in French literature at the Sorbonne in Paris. She also took
students for summers in Europe about 20 times.

When she was young, she learned to play the piano, and she sang with the
Schoolcraft Community Choir and the St. John’s Armenian Church Komitas
Choir. She also sang at the weddings of each of her children.

Besides her husband of 41 years, survivors include a son, Phillippe; a
daughter, Yvette Faiter; her mother; two brothers, and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. John’s Armenian Church, 22001
Northwestern Highway, Southfield. Arrangements are by the Simon Javizian
Funeral Home in Detroit.

The family suggests any memorial donations be made to the church, 22001
Northwestern Highway, Southfield 48075.

Contact JEANNE MAY at 586-469-4682or [email protected].

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

April 28, 2004

Contact: Armen Carapetian 818.500.1918

ANC Events and Initiatives – From California, Nevada, Arizona, Montana,
Idaho and other States – Draw Record Numbers of Armenian Americans Voters
Who Call For U.S. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide

ANC Communicates Genocide Recognition with CNN, The Los Angeles Times and
Major Media Outlets

California: Thousands of Armenian Americans attended a solemn ceremony in
the shadow of the Armenian Genocide Monument and were joined by Members of
Congress, State Legislators, the Co-Chairman of the Kerry Presidential
Campaign, and local public officials.

Nevada: Hundreds of Armenian Americans attended a commemoration ceremony
with keynote speaker U.S. Senator John Ensign, author of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution in the Senate.

Arizona: Over 250 Armenian Americans in Phoenix joined together at Wesley
Bolin Plaza, home of an Armenian Genocide Monument, to mark the 89th
anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century.

Montana: The State of Montana became the 32nd U.S. state to recognize the
Armenian Genocide. This initiative was spearheaded by the ANC of Montana.

Idaho: The State of Idaho became the 33rd U.S. state to recognize the
Armenian Genocide as Republican Governor Dirk Kempthorne, issued a
proclamation citing April 24th `Idaho Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923.’ This initiative was spearheaded by the ANC of
Idaho.

ANC-Professional Network: In cooperation with the ARF Shant Student
Association and the Armenian Youth Federation, ANC-PN organized a `Rally
Against Genocide Denial.’ The event was attended by over 1,000 youth and
included a presentation by popular radio host David Barsamian.

MAJOR EVENT: The rock band System of a Down dedicated its April 24th
performance to the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and raised funds for
the ANCA in DC. Tickets for the concert were sold out in seven minutes.

INTERNET INITIATIVE: Over 10,000 Armenian-Americans from the Western United
States sent messages to their Members of Congress through the ANCA website
Action Alert system –

ANCA GENOCIDE PREVENTION POSTCARD CAMPAIGN: In a massive grassroots drive,
over ten thousand ANC supporters signed postcards urging Congressional
leaders to schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolutions pending in
the House (H.Res. 193) and Senate (S.Res.164).

Central California/Fresno ANC Chapter: Local leaders joined together to
raise the Armenian Flag above City Hall to honor the martyrs of 1915.

San Francisco/Bay Area ANC Chapter: Secured Armenian Genocide resolutions
from four cities and counties, showed an Armenian Genocide film at the S.F.
Public Library and helped lead a Genocide commemoration event featuring the
Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly, Leland Yee.

City of Los Angeles: Seven Members of the Los Angeles City Council joined
ANC leaders at a solemn ceremony held to mark the Armenian Genocide. A
resolution was unanimously passed by the City Council to honor the martyrs
of 1915 and register opposition to efforts to deny this crime against
humanity.

Burbank ANC Chapter: Worked with local civic and political leaders to have
the Burbank City Council pass a proclamation commemorating the Armenian
Genocide.

East San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles ANC Chapters: Hosted a forum
featuring Aram Sarafian, a Major in the U.S. Army and an ANC activist.
Sarafian focused his remarks on the need for Armenian Americans to engage
the American political process in the effort to secure full U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

La Crescenta ANC Chapter: Organized an educational event on Armenian history
and the Armenian Genocide at the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley Town
Council with Professor Levon Marashlian of Glendale Community College.

Pasadena ANC Chapter: Over four hundred Armenian Americans joined the Mayor
of Pasadena and Congressman Adam Schiff in commemorating the Armenian
Genocide at an event held at the Pasadena Armenian Center.

San Diego ANC Chapter: Will be hosting an academic conference on Genocide
Denial on May 8, 2004 at U.C. San Diego.

San Fernando Valley and Glendale ANC Chapters: In cooperation with the
American Red Cross, each ANC chapter hosted a successful blood drive. The
blood of the Armenian American community will be used to save lives.

San Gabriel Valley/Montebello ANC: Hosted a vigil in the shadow of the
Genocide Monument. The event included the participation of Congresswomen
Hilda Solis and Grace Napolitano.

South Bay/Torrance ANC Chapter: Worked with Rolling Hills Estates Councilman
Frank Zerunyan to have the City Council pass a resolution commemorating the
Armenian Genocide.

National: ANCA-WR pushed a record number of Members of Congress to urge
President Bush to use the term `genocide’ in his April 24th message. Over
190 House and Senate members joined the effort.

California: With the full support of the Central California/Fresno ANC
chapter – California State Senator Chuck Poochigian urged and secured an
`Armenian Genocide’ statement from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Local Los Angeles Events: ANCA-WR Staff spoke at a record number of events
to educate the public about the Armenian Genocide – talks were delivered at
Cal State LA, Cal Poly Pomona, Bank of America Culture Day, Pasadena School
District, Calabasas High School, Homenentmen Scouts, All-Armenian Student
Association Candle Light Vigil at University of California, Riverside,
Glendale High School Armenian Genocide Remembrance Assembly, Chamlian
Armenian School in La Crescenta, California, Los Angeles County Department
of Social Services Welfare Office Staff on `Trauma of the Armenian
Genocide,’ Camp Shining Light participants, and at many other venues.

City Proclamations: The ANC worked with local city leaders in California to
pass Armenian Genocide Resolutions in Irvine, Oakland, Downey, Rolling Hills
Estates, among many other municipalities.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

####

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 30 2004

Armenian villager contracts anthrax

YEREVAN, April 30 (Itar-Tass) – A case of anthrax has been
registered in Armenia, the republic’s chief state sanitary doctor
Vladimir Davidyants said.

Arutyun Khachatrian, 41, contracted the skin variant of the disease
while butchering a dead cow in the village of Aigabats, Shirak
region.

Doctors in the hospital in the regional administrative centre of
Gyumry, former Leninakan, where the patient is undergoing a course of
treatment see his condition as satisfactory.

Anthrax killed nearly 40 heads of cattle in the village of Aigabats
in the middle of April. According to preliminary data, the animals
had contracted the diseases as a result of injection of non-standard
vaccine made in Armenia.

The hotbed of disease has been localized, said an official at the
Chief veterinary inspectorate of Armenia.

Armenian defence minister denies “political” arrests

Arminfo
28 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The chairman of the Security Council under the Armenian president and
defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, does not agree with the
opposition’s statements that repression and political arrests are
under way in Armenia and that the free movement of citizens in the
republic is being restricted.

“It is another issue that the police have been conducting inspections
on the republic’s roads, which is the duty of the law-enforcement
agencies in conditions when aggressive political forces announce their
plans to change power in the republic by force,” Sarkisyan told
journalists.

As for the discussion of the internal political situation in Armenia
by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Sarkisyan does
not think that this may lead to serious consequences.

CENN – MAY 3, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Became A Member of the `Caucasus Environment Society’
2. EIA Report on the Project `Production of the Flour and Oil from the
Fish Products in Poti. ” by the `Kabadokia’ Ltd
3. WWF Caucasus Programme Office – Vacancy Announcement
4. Community Investment Program-East
5. Azerbaijan Hopes to Include Kazakhstan in BTC in 2004
6. Caspian Sea Problems to be Discussed in Kazakhstan
7. Kazakh section of Caspian Sea gets clean up
8. Hirkan preserve to be added to UNESCO’s Natural Heritage list?
9. BP-Azerbaijan Conducts Workshop at Baku Business Center
10. Minister Ayvazyan at UN 12TH Session on Sustainable Development
11. Armenia Counting on $20 mln World Bank Roads Loan
12. Animal Deaths, Threat to Humans Continue to Plague Village
13. Dying for a Cigarette: Anti-smoking Campaign Must Change Minds as
well as Habits
14. Forestry School to be Established
15. Cognac and Winemaking in Armenia
16. We Have the Right to Live in a Favorable Environment
17. Sevan Wanting Water

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 April 1, 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. EIA REPORT ON THE PROJECT `PRODUCTION OF THE FLOUR AND OIL FROM THE
FISH PRODUCTS IN POTI. ” BY THE `KABADOKIA’ LTD

`Sakartvelos Respublica’ (`Republic of Georgia’), April 30, 2004

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, Ltd `Kabadokia’ submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of first category – Project on
Production of the Flour and Oil from the Fish Products in Poti.

EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of
Environment (68, Kostava str., VI floor) and at the Department of
Environmental Permits and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili
Str., Tel: 25 02 19). Interested stakeholders can analyze the document
and present their comments and considerations until June 15, 2004.

Public hearing will be held on June 15, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.

3. WWF CAUCASUS PROGRAMME OFFICE — VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

WWF Caucasus Programme Office, in co-ordination with the Critical
Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), is looking for a Communications
Officer to plan, develop and co-ordinate the Programme’s internal and
external communications activities.

Position title: Communications Officer,

WWF Caucasus Programme Office

Reports to: WWF Caucasus Programme Head of Communications

1. Major Functions:

Communications Officer is responsible for coordinating and supporting
communications efforts throughout the Caucasus region with the aim of
helping to increase conservation awareness and the profile of both WWF
and CEPF and acts as the focal point for the WWF Caucasus programme on
all issues relating to communications. The major focus of the position
is to act as the WWF Caucasus Programme Office primary liaison with the
news media and partners, including federal agencies, private companies
and NGO partners in regard to publicizing the joint goals, progress and
results of the two programmes. The Communications Officer’s role is to
ensure that the two programs complementary messages, statements, news
and activities are publicized as widely as possible, and to ensure that
there is consistency and coherence in WWF’s national and regional media
outreach and with CEPF’s global communications.

2. = Major Duties and Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the WWF Caucasus Programme Office and CEPF staff
and if required, with the WWF network, develops Communications
Strategies for various projects aimed at assisting WWF Caucasus in the
country and region to better achieve jointly-set conservation milestones
and targets.

Creates stronger presence of WWF to push the elements of its national
and regional work into public perception, and thereby increase its
willingness to support WWF’s conservation goals and targets.

Maintains an attractive and interactive website on
in accordance with WWF International’s web
strategy and linked to relevant partner organizations.

Researches, writes and edits news and feature articles, news releases
and other texts in response to the information requirements of the WWF
network and CEPF. Disseminates this information in an appropriate form
for the relevant target audiences. Dissemination of such material to
news media will be done after consultation with the head of WWF Caucasus
Programme Office’s communications.

Receives and responds to information requests, and, where needed,
arranges for appropriate support from within the WWF Caucasus and CEPF
teams and the WWF network or other organizations to meet requests.

Supports the production and verification of facts in news releases,
video productions or features that deal with the region.

Monitors coverage of various media for relevant issues and informs
interested parties accordingly.

Coordinates and, if required, leads media visits to major field projects
and undertakes duty travel to field projects for the purposes of
researching and producing appropriate materials on specific projects.

Helps establish good internal communications within the WWF Caucasus and
CEPF programmes and across the WWF Network, making best use of tools
such as the WWF intranet and the CEPF newsletter and Web site.

Performs other duties as requested by the head of communications.

3. Working Relationships:

Works with the WWF Caucasus Programme Office and CEPF communications
department in developing communications capacity and strategies. Builds
contacts with media organizations and with governmental and
non-governmental agencies for fostering communications in the region, in
close coordination with the communication departments of WWF Caucasus
Programme Office and
CEPF.

4. Contract & conditions:

The contract will be issued for four years, with a trial period of six
months and regular annual performance reviews.

5. Personal Profile:

1. Knowledge: University degree in journalism, communications or
appropriate field, or comparable experience.
2. Experience: At least three years professional experience as
journalist or press officer. Communications experience in conservation
or environmental issues strongly preferred. Experience of developing
partnerships between wide varieties of organizations to achieve common
goals.
3. Skills and Abilities:

§ A strong interest in the field of nature conservation
§ Strong editorial and writing skills in a variety of styles
§ The ability to work independently and under strict deadlines
§ Good organizational skills, and an ability to work with individuals
from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures
§ Familiar with the Caucasus region
§ Excellent written and spoken English, Russian and Georgian.
§ Excellent inter-personal communications and networking skills, proven
good team working, organizational and management skills, and a lively
and enquiring mind
§ Willingness and ability to undertake travel throughout the region

6. Application:

WWF is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and
minorities are encouraged to apply.

Application letters should be sent with CVs enclosed (only in electronic
format English languages) to: [email protected] or
[email protected] For questions concerning job content please
contact Kakha Tolordava, Head of Communications WWF Caucasus Programme
Office, telephone 33 01 54/55, or email: [email protected]

Closing date for application is the May 18, 2004

Due to the large volume of resumes we receive, only applicants selected
for an interview will be contacted.

4. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM-EAST

Source: The Messenger, April 30, 2004

Since March 2003 Mercy Corps and its four Georgian partner organizations
(Constants Foundation, Elkana, Curato International Foundation and
Technical Assistance in Georgia) have been implementing a three-year
Community Investment Program-East (CIP-E) initiated and funded by BOP
and its partners at BTC and SCP projects.

On its first anniversary the CIP-E would like t present the summary of
its activities, accomplishments and future plans.

Community Infrastructure Projects: The 32 village along the eastern part
of the pipeline have been grouped into 250 community clusters, the
population in each cluster ranges from 80 to over 5,600. Each community
cluster will implement three infrastructure projects over the three-year
project period. Funding for each community cluster depends on the
population. Larger communities will manage larger project and budgets,
as the infrastructure needs of these communities are greater. The
community contribution will range from 25% for the first round to 45%
for the final round. By the end of the project the total community
contribution for all projects will be over $270,000. Projects
implemented so far, include irrigation, potable water, new school
construction, school rehabilitation, natural gas systems and/or meter
installation and road rehabilitation. Mercy Corps will have the support
of its partner Technical Assistance in Georgia (TAG) for engineering
expertise. The TAG and the community design the project, seek
governmental approval when necessary and monitor the quality of
construction and the timeliness of implementation.

Accomplished: 34 Infrastructure projects have been completed with a
community contribution valued at over $84,000.

Future Plans: Mercy Corps plans for an additional 41 projects to be
completed by the end of year three. Additional types of projects include
the rehabilitation of cultural clubs, electrical systems, agricultural
mills and sports fields. Management of project implementation has
slightly shifted in some communities therefore experienced community
members will be involved as well as new community members. Much has been
learned through the completion of the first round projects and Community
Initiative Groups (CIG) anticipate utilizing their newfound skills for
the smooth implementation of 2nd and 3 rd round projects.

Agriculture and Energy Efficiency Projects: Each of the 25 community
clusters will design a Plan of Action (PoA) that incorporates a
community agricultural/income generation projects, energy efficiency
activities agricultural models and tree planting campaigns. Each
community cluster regardless of its population will have an equal amount
of funds (UD $7,500) to use for the implementation of a community
agricultural/income generation project and/or energy efficiency
activity. PoA agricultural activities so far include winter wheat
production, corn production for animal feed, vegetable seed
distributions and the distribution of plastic and vegetable seeds for
mini-greenhouses. PoA energy efficiency activities include the
distribution of energy efficient stoves, the winterization of public
buildings and training in other energy sources such as biogas. Each
household benefits from these activities by either receiving the
materials directly or by receiving an equal amount of harvest. Mercy
Corps agriculture partner Elkana also has funds for the implementation
of 20 Agricultural Demonstration Models, which include but are not
limited to organic pesticides, winter wheat production, crop rotation,
barely production or composting. They will also provide up to 15
communities with saplings of pine, various fruit or poplar for tree
planting campaigns. Elkana will also provide training to each community
in Energy Efficiency, Organic Farming and General Agro-Technology. Mercy
Corps partner Elkana is involved in all of the CIP-E agricultural
activities.

Accomplished: Twenty PoAs have been approved and activities have started
n six villages. Four Agricultural Demonstration have been established
and eight Tree Planting Campaigns have been completed.

Future plans: The remaining five PoA design will be approved in the
coming months. The PoAs will be implemented over the next two years with
the majority of PoAs incorporating three or four different activities,
which build on each other o increase impact.

Social Service Networks, Medical Training and Medical Point Supply: All
communities will be assessed for needs in the area of health and at last
nine communities will be evaluated for Social Service Networks. These
are primarily elderly communities in isolated areas. Various Medical
trainings will be provided to community members in all communities, as
well as selected staff from functioning Clinics Medical Points. Selected
communities will have Medical Points rehabilitated and supplied with
equipment and drugs. Advocacy activities focused on the local and
central government on behalf of these villages will be carried out in
order to ensure the necessary medical staffing level for these
communities. Mercy Corps partner Curatio International Foundation will
manage this very challenging sector of the program.

Accomplished: Community assessments have been completed in 32 villages
to document the current situation in each community regarding access to
health service, local expertise and the condition and/or existence of
Clinics or Medical Pints. Five Social Service Networks are functioning,
providing access to health services and support to the elderly from
community members. First Aid, Heath Safety & the Environment and Waste
Management trainings have been conducted in all 32 communities.

Future Plans: Additional Social Service Networks will be established in
the remaining villages and advocacy activities will be continue.
Technical Medical Trainings for professional Clinic and Medical Point
staff will be offered to all communities.

Micro-Credit: Group and Individual loans will be available to
communities along the pipeline. These loans range from US $ 50 to 1,500.
Constanta Foundation is very well established in Georgia and they will
manage this activity. There is $ 204,957 directly available for Group
and Individual loans starting in year one through year three. Constanta
Foundation will also bring match to the grant, which will cover overhead
costs including salaries, rent, vehicle, insurances and supplies for the
third year. Many clients pay back their loans and seek additional
funding to continue to increase the size of their business.

Accomplished: 320 new clients and 178 repeat clients received
Micro-loans as members of a group (from BTC/SCP funds) and nine
Individual loans were disbursed totaling over $ 100, 000. However, not
all clients reside in pipeline communities.

Future Plans: Group and Individual loans will continue to be available
and in year two an additional $92,000 will be directly available for
agricultural loans. Constanta Foundation will be self-sustainable by
year three and this lending program is planned to continue long after
CIP-E ends.

Capacity Building: All communities throughout the project period will
receive a variety of trainings that include Action Planning, Proposal &
Budget Preparation, Financial Reporting and Conflict Management. During
the three project cycles communities will acquire additional skills
through their involvement in project implementation including
Leadership, Management, Communication and Organizational Skills as well
as practical understanding of the concepts of accountability and
transparency. A Partners Workshop will be held during the project period
where community leaders can participate in the evaluation and future
planning for the CIP-E. Communities who have been successful in the
management of projects and have proven their ability to work well
together will additional trainings. These trainings include but are not
limited to: Community Based Organization (CBO) Formation, Project Cycle
Management, Project Development/ Proposal Writing for NGOs and CBOs, NGO
Capacity Building, Development and Fund-Raising, Leadership and Team
Building and Marketing for Non-Profits.

Accomplished: 26 Action Planning Meetings held 26 Community Initiative
Groups formed-trainings conducted in Proposal & Budget Preparation,
Financial Reporting and Conflict Mitigation and Management. A Partners
Workshop was held with participants from 21 communities to review
project activities, evaluate the program and plan for future CIP-E
program activities.

Future Plans: Mercy Corps will evaluate community capacity and interest
in pursuing the more formal Cbo type of trainings. Mercy Corps believes
at least ten communities will choose to involve into more structures
organizations. However, the CIP-E goal in that all communities will be
able to continue to mobilize community members, mobilize resources,
advocate to local government an be able to implement additional projects
independently of CIP-E support. This is not dependent upon their being
formally registered.

Technical Training: Mercy Corps believes in providing trainings that
will enable community members to address local infrastructure problems,
prepare potential distress and have selected individuals trained in
basic healthcare. Mercy Corps also encourages community members to
suggest trainings that they would be interested in having conducted in
their village. In each community NGO partners, NGO contractors and/or
Government /Technical Specialists will conduct the following trainings
during the first half of the project period: Effective Communication,
Disaster Preparedness, First Aid, Health Safety & Environmental, Waste
Management, Introduction to Organic Agriculture Methods, Composting of
Waste and Farming Regulations in Georgia. Additional trainings could be
but are not limited to; Economic Opportunities, Immunization, Management
of Chronic Diseases, Eldarly Care and Teach Training.

Accomplished: The following trainings were conducted in each community;
First Aid, Health Safety & Environmental, Waste Management, Disaster
Preparedness, Maternity Care, Child Care, Immunization, Introduction to
Organic Agricultural Methods and Composting of Waste. Communities have
already selected trainings that they want conducted in their villages.

Future Plans: Trainings will continue for communities throughout the
CIP-E project period and these will be both the standard CIP-E trainings
an community sleeted ones. All sectors of the communities benefit
including: medical personnel, farmers, community leaders and business
people.

Tamuna Kvaratskhelia
Special Projects Officer
Mercy Corps
Tbilisi
Tel: (995 32) 25 24 71/1/2/3

5. AZERBAIJAN HOPES TO INCLUDE KAZAKHSTAN IN BTC IN 2004

Source: Interfax, April 28, 2004

Azerbaijan hopes that Kazakhstan will become a participant in the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project in 2004, stated Khalaf Khalafov Azerbaijan
Deputy Foreign Minister at the forum Caspian: Politics, Economics, and
Business in Astana on April 28, 2004.

“At the moment 34 companies from 16 countries are participating in
transport projects in the Caspian region. Azerbaijan considers the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline projects to be the
main ones,” he said.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects are “necessary
conditions” for the economic development of the Caspian region and will
strengthen its energy security,” said Mr. Khalafov.

Khalaf Khalafov stated that Azerbaijan shares the position of Kazakhstan
regarding the laying of pipelines along the Caspian seabed.

Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abuseitov said at the forum
that Kazakhstan is against having to agree laying underwater
communications and pipeline in the Caspian with all of the littoral
states. These issues should be agreed with the Caspian states through
whose sectors they pass, and not with all states in the region, he said.

Kazakhstan hopes to transport 10 million – 20 million tones of oil per
year through the pipeline. The republic produced over 51.3 million tones
of oil and condensate in 2003.

Construction of the 690-km Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline should begin in
the third quarter 2004. The pipeline will transport gas from the
Shah-Deniz field, which has reserves of 625 billion cubic meters of gas
and 101 million tones of condensate.

6. CASPIAN SEA PROBLEMS TO BE DISCUSSED IN KAZAKHSTAN

Source: RBC, April 29, 2004

The next meeting of a special working group on the legal status of the
Caspian Sea will take place in Astana or Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Senior
Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kayrat Abuseitov said at the first
international Caspian forum in Astana on April 28, 2004. “We have not
decided on the exact date but we suppose it will be at the beginning of
June,” Abuseitov added. The Caspian states started solving the problem
of the Caspian Sea and it is very important that the sides consider
signing the Caspian Sea convention to be a priority task, Abuseitov
pointed out. However, according to him, complicated issues still remain,
which the sides cannot agree on. According to Abuseitov, negotiations at
the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers are essential and have already
produced results.

7. KAZAKH SECTION OF CASPIAN SEA GETS CLEAN UP

Source: Azernews, 29/04/2004

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources expressed its concern to
the Kazakh government late in January over the pollution of the Kazakh
section of the Caspian Sea. The ministry told AssA-Irada that the reply
sent from the Kazakh Ministry of Environmental Protection read that oil
spots were observed around some wells on a suspended onshore oil field
while conducting research in the Caspian Sea last December.

8. HIRKAN PRESERVE TO BE ADDED TO UNESCO’S NATURAL HERITAGE LIST?

Source: Azernews, April 28 – May 4, 2004

The Azerbaijani government will present UNESCO with a proposal to
include the Hirkan state preserve in its list of the world’s natural
heritage sites in 2004. Ramiz Abutalibov, head of UNESCO’s Baku office,
told AssA-Irada that the issue would be discussed during a UNESCO
meeting next year. The preserve was founded in 1936 for protection and
research of Hirkan-type plants, including rare species such as iron
trees, oak trees with chestnut leaves, and box trees.

9. BP-AZERBAIJAN CONDUCTS WORKSHOP AT BAKU BUSINESS CENTER

Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
April 29, 2004

`BP-Azerbaijan’ has conducted a workshop for mass media representatives
at the Baku Business Center. Manager of Social Investments Michael
Hecknbourg updated the audience on the social investing, its kernel and
mechanism of realization. The British Petroleum implementing large-scale
oil and gas projects in some countries and investing in the social
sector tries to assist small and medium enterprises in Azerbaijan and
create possibilities for the population to derive a constant income. A
word `Investment’ is selected not for its meaning but for making
differences from other conceptions in the business sphere. Up to now,
through such NGOs as `Umid’ and `Hayat’ the company sponsored some
projects in education and culture, contributed to the reconstruction of
the infrastructure of the settlements located along the main export
pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and northern pipeline and to opening o f
new jobs.

BP representative reported that the company is going to continue this
mission after constructing BTC oil pipeline and South-Caucasus gas
pipeline.

10. MINISTER AYVAZYAN AT UN 12TH SESSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

May 1, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Armenia’s Minister for Nature Protection participated at the 12th
session of the Commission on Sustainable Development

>From April 28-30, 2004, the delegation of the Republic of Armenia,
headed by H.E. Vardan Ayvazyan, Minister for Nature Protection,
participated at the High-Level Segment of the 12th session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development, held at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York. The High-Level discussion focused on the issue
of sanitation and human settlements.

During the session Minister Ayvazyan made statements on water and
sanitation, which are considered to be core elements for sustainable
development. In his remarks he noted that the United Nations and its
agencies and funds, as well as international financial institutions
could play an important role in the implementation of national programs
aimed at addressing water and sanitation challenges in the country. He
urged to focus on rehabilitating dated sanitation systems and providing
for new environmentally and ecologically sound technologies. Speaking
about water issues, the Minister noted that Armenia suffered some
serious water problems, including water quality. Much of the water came
from underground, and was of a good quality. By passing through obsolete
water supply systems it loses its quality. Moreover, 50% of the water
entering the system gets lost due to leakage. In 2002, the country had
adopted a Water Code, with a focus on basin management, the first to be
developed and implemented in the South Caucasus. It had helped to
introduce integrated water resource management in the country.

11. ARMENIA COUNTING ON $20 MLN WORLD BANK ROADS LOAN

Source: Interfax, April 30, 2004

The government of Armenia is engaged in loan talks with the World Bank
for $20 million for revitalizing local roadways, First Deputy Transport
and Communications Minister Grand Beglaryan announced at a briefing on
April 29, 2004.

The government has already applied to the World Bank and the amount of
work ahead is being figured out. It will take around $300 million to
revitalize all the country’s local road networks.

12. ANIMAL DEATHS, THREAT TO HUMANS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE VILLAGE

Source: ArmeniaNow.com, April 30 2004

A case of human anthrax infection is believed to have been found in the
Aygabats village of Shirak region. Last week, ArmeniaNow reported an
outbreak of the disease that had caused the deaths of 40 cattle.

On April 27, 2004, villager Harutyun Khachatryan, who had been in
contact with the infected animals, showed symptoms of anthrax infection
and was taken to hospital in Gyumri.

Doctors say Khachatryan is in satisfactory condition, but in the village
tensions are high, as animals continue to die.

“This week the number of dead animals in the village has reached 48,”
says head of the village Gagik Altunyan. “The village is still in
quarantine, members of the committee pay frequent visits and do tests,
but our situation is still unclear.”

The outbreak started after April 15 when animals began to die following
anti-anthrax vaccinations.

The chief veterinary doctor of the republic Anushavan Aghajanyan visited
the village and expressed a preliminary opinion that the reason of the
cattle’s death was anthrax.

A special committee was formed to determine if the cause of the outbreak
was the vaccine. Tests were sent to Moscow for evaluation.

Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan would not reveal the name of the
company producing the vaccine. He did say, however, that if tests proved
the vaccine was faulty, compensation for the villagers would be demanded
of the company.

Sahakyan says that only 15 days ago more than 400 cattle in the Vayk
region were vaccinated with the same vaccine and there have been no ill
effects since.

“The vaccine has been produced during five years by the same scientific
group and during those years we have done 10 million vaccinations of
animals in different regions of the republic,” says Sahakyan. “And
there’s never been such a case. Though it’s true that vaccination time
coincided with the time when animals died, that alone is not enough to
accuse out company. If during five years we provided the vaccine with
absolutely no problems, this already shows for itself.”

Sahakyan says that before the vaccine is administered specialists test
it and that such tests revealed no problems with the medicine applied in
Aygabats.

Doctor of veterinary sciences, Meruzhan Zadayan was among scientists
investigating the Aygabats case and says the vaccine is not to blame.

According to the specialist, the vaccine cannot be used for instance on
animals in the last stages of pregnancy, or during cold or hot weather,
or on exhausted animals. Nor can it be combined with other vaccines. (In
Aygabats at the time of vaccination, nights reached temperatures below
freezing.)

According to Zadayan the anti-anthrax vaccine was used on cows and mixed
with a separate vaccine for another disease.

13. DYING FOR A CIGARETTE: ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN MUST CHANGE MINDS AS
WELL AS HABITS

Source: ArmeniaNow.com, April 30, 2004

An appealing cigarette advertisement placed in newspapers comes with two
cigarettes attached, carefully wrapped in transparent cellophane. That
ad was available to everyone and offered real temptation especially for
teenagers, for whom such material offers an incentive to take up the
smoking habit.

A year ago health care specialists hoped that the adoption of a law
project on cigarettes would introduce restrictions in this area.
However, in March 2004 the National Assembly rejected the law On
Cigarettes for the second time. Cigarette commercials and propaganda got
back on track after that and, according to sales statistics, the number
of smokers started growing.

According to statistics today around 70% of men in Armenia are smokers.
There’s no precise information regarding women since many hide their
addictive habit. However, experts believe that smoking is increasing
rapidly among women, partly out of a popular view that a woman who
smokes is stylish, modern and sexy.

Health care specialists are particularly concerned by the situation
among teenagers, which they say indicates a lack of attention in Armenia
to the seriousness of smoking.

“They smoke everywhere, in cafes, even in buses,” says the chairman of
Human Health charitable organization David Petrosyan. “If you try to
reprimand someone you’ll either be considered a bad person or you’ll get
an ironical smile, since the law defining this field does not exist and
anti-smoking control in Armenia is very weak. And doctors are not ready
to explain to people the real threat of this habit.”

Mr. Petrosyan says that the law On Cigarettes could change the situation
to some degree by beginning to curtail the epidemic of smoking. It
proposed serious restrictions on cigarette advertisement, smoking in
public places and in many aspects of this sphere.

Color advertisements in newspapers and magazines and on TV would have
been prohibited. Smoking would have been banned in schools and at other
institutions for children, while cigarette companies would have been
barred from sponsoring TV and radio programs for youngsters. (A current
law on advertisement places certain restrictions on cigarette
advertisement, but the law has been mostly ignored since the new law was
rejected.)

“Diseases, disablement and mortality from smoking have reached
unbelievable levels among us today. The indexes on lung cancer are
causing concern,” says Petrosyan. “Unfortunately, MPs don’t take the
situation seriously. The draft law was rejected in a similarly unserious
atmosphere, since no one thought that by rejecting law they would not be
elected tomorrow. The public has to change its opinion on this issue.”

Public opinion in Armenia may appear indifferent now, but Alexander
Bazarchyan, the anti-smoking project coordinator at Armenia’s Health
Ministry, says individuals and organizations that are interested in this
issue will do everything to change the situation.

“The law has already been rejected twice but, a year on, the
anti-smoking fight is now pretty active,” says Bazarchyan.
“Non-government organizations, media have become more active, new events
are being organized.”

Mr. Petrosyan says there will be a fresh attempt soon to pass the law in
the National Assembly. He says: “We’re working and doing some
clarifications in that direction. The anti-smoking struggle is not
something of one or two days. At the end of the day, the rights of
non-smokers have to be protected as well.”

A website is being opened () with information and
statistics on smoking in Armenia, and there are plans to publish a book
setting out the real dangers of cigarettes.

14. FORESTRY SCHOOL TO BE ESTABLISHED

Source: ArmenPress, April 30, 2004

Skilled personnel is of crucial importance for implementation of forest
recreation projects in Armenia, while local specialists have not passed
any training in the last 10-15 years, but this gap is going to be
eliminated soon after a forestry school is established, Andranik
Ghulijanian, the head of Forest Research Center told Armenpress.

Mr. Ghulinjanian said an institutional support to forests project is
implemented within Natural Resource Management and Poverty Alleviation
project, funded by Swedish Sida. The project envisages creation of a
regional training center Zikatar. Ghulijanian said Armenian Environment
and Agricultural ministries and the World Bank have approved the
business plan of the center. In the course of a year, preparatory works
will be finished and the center can start its educational program. The
participants will be specialist of Armenian Forestry and students of
Agricultural Academy and Ijevan branch of Yerevan state university
forestry department.

The training of the specialists will contribute to forest recreation in
Armenia allowing to have a thorough data base on Armenian forests.

15. COGNAC AND WINEMAKING IN ARMENIA

Source: Interfax, April 30, 2004

Armenia is one of the oldest winemaking regions, but it is better known
for its cognac, which it began producing in the late 19th century. Today
cognac is a symbol of Armenia and an important export product.

Armenian cognac has always been in high demand in Russia but it is now
becoming popular on new markets and is sold in 25 countries.

Armenian wine is not as popular. After the crisis in the industry that
followed the collapse of the Soviet Union Armenian producers lost their
key market – Russia, but in the wine later began appearing on the
Russian and international markets.

16. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT

Armenia ratified Aarhus Convention in 2001. But it hasn’t yet been
officially translated into Armenian and published. “Our officials don’t
like Aarhus Convention”, lawyer Aida Iskoyan said at an ecology seminar
on “Ecology Problems and Coverage in Mass Media”, held by OSCE Yerevan
Office and Social Center for Ecological Information. She considers
ratification of the Convention as achievement in such atmosphere.

Convention provides that everyone has the right to get ecological
information. “If an official refuses to give information, he must base
why”, Mrs. Iskoyan says.

Ecology International Academy member, Professor Razmik Petrosyan
stresses the ecological education, adding economic instruments are
necessary for it.

17. SEVAN WANTING WATER

Source; A1 Plus, April 30, 2004

“During 70 years Sevan Lake water level reduced by 41%”, Boris
Gabrielyan, Vice-Director of Hydro-Ecology Institute of National Academy
of Sciences, said during the seminar on ecology held be OSCE Yerevan
Office. {BR}

According to him, water decrease influenced on ecosystem of Sevan Lake.
In particular, the aboriginal fish – koghak, ishkhan and beghlu face the
danger to disappear completely. He says the water quality and level are
the reason of it.

Armenian Authorities announce they are going to raise Sevan water level
by 2 meters whereas the ecologists demand to increase it by 6 meters at
least.

Karine Danielyan, “For Stable Development” Association Chair, thinks one
must give ‘the oligarchs possessing establishments’ on Sevan beach to
understand that they will suffer in both cases if hindering increase of
water level. “If they worry that their properties might appear under
water, they must realize that Sevan eutrophication will continue”, she
explained.

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

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

Interfax
April 22 2004

Azerbaijani president finds visit of German minister important

Baku. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – The visit of German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer to Baku will give an impetus to bilateral relations,
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said receiving Fischer on
Wednesday.

“The visit is creating a good foundation for speeding up economic
cooperation because today Azerbaijan is a developing country and has
created all the necessary conditions for investments,” he said. He
pointed to Azerbaijan’s successes in integration in European
institutions.

However the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh remains a threat to regional
security and obstructs the full-scale economic development in the
region, Aliyev said.

In his turn Fischer expressed Germany’s readiness to offer its
assistance in settling the conflict. He said that Azerbaijan having a
special position in the South Caucasus needs stability for steady
economic development.

The Canadian Press, 2004

Commons vote recognizes Armenian genocide as “crime against humanity”
ALEXANDER PANETTA

OTTAWA (CP) – Canada became one of few countries to formally recognize the
genocide of Armenian Turks during the First World War in a strongly worded
motion adopted 153-68 in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Government members were discouraged from voting for the motion, which is
sure to anger a Turkish government that has never recognized the massacre of
1.5 million Armenians starting in 1915.

Following a charged debate at their weekly closed-door caucus meeting,
Liberal backbenchers voted massively in favour while the party’s cabinet
contingent rejected the Bloc Quebecois motion.

Prime Minister Paul Martin was absent during the politically sensitive vote
but Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham defended the government’s
opposition.

The Turkish government has warned that recognizing the genocide could have
economic consequences and Graham said he wanted to maintain good relations
with Turkey.

“Turkey is an important NATO ally in a region where it is a Muslim country
with a moderate government,” he said.

“What we seek to do in our foreign policy is to encourage the forward
dimension, we’re forward-looking. We’d like our Armenian friends and our
Turkish friends to work together to put these issues in the past.”

The motion read: “That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915
and condemns this act as a crime against humanity.”

The Turkish government rejects the charge of genocide as unfounded and says
that while 600,000 Armenians died, 2.5 million Muslims perished in a period
of civil unrest.

Unlike the Liberal government most opposition MPs – including Conservative
Leader Stephen Harper – voted in favour of the motion, which places Canada
in a category of only about two dozen countries to have recognized the
Armenian genocide.

The United Nations has also recognized the massacre, and Armenians have been
fighting for decades throughout the world for that sort of acknowledgement.

One opposition critic labelled the prime minister “hypocritical” for
promising more free votes and then forcing ministers to toe the line on such
a matter of deep personal conscience.

“It’s a terrible double standard for Paul Martin to force his ministers to
vote against it and not even show up himself,” said Tory foreign affairs
critic Stockwell Day.

“That is a hypocritical double standard.”

Liberal Hedy Fry supported the motion but said it’s important to note the
atrocities were carried out under the Ottoman empire, which has faded into
history and was long ago replaced by a modern Turkish state.

“I think we need to recognize the past,” she said.

“I think it doesn’t mean we’ve broken ties with the current regime in
Turkey. They are our colleagues, they are our NATO allies. They are a
moderate, Muslim government and I think we need to work with them.

Recognizing what happened in the Ottoman empire shouldn’t affect Canada’s
diplomatic relations with Turkey, she said.

Fry and many other former Liberal cabinet ministers who are now backbenchers
also voted in favour, including Martin Cauchon, Stephane Dion, Maurizio
Bevilacqua, Lyle Vanclief, Lawrence MacAulay, Herb Dhaliwal and David
Kilgour.

© The Canadian Press, 2004

19.04.2004 12:24:00 GMT
Armenia sells its gold reserves

Yerevan. (Interfax) – The Central Bank of Armenia has sold the country’s
gold reserves of about 1.4 tonnes, the Bank told Interfax.

Details of the deal, which took place and the end of last year, are not
being disclosed.

The Central Bank of Armenia’s board decided to sell the reserves because of
the high liquidity on the gold market over the past few years, the Bank’s
press service reported. “The high correlation between gold and the euro
means that even without gold in international reserves the necessary level
of diversification can be maintained and at the same time the yield of
international reserves can be raised,” the Bank said.

In recent years, gold reserves have remained unchanged at around 1,396 kg,
which on October 1 2003 was estimated at $17.1 million (3.65% of Armenia’s
international reserves of $468.7 million). International reserves, already
without gold, totaled $512 million on April 1 2004.

Georgian minister complains of fuel smuggling from Azerbaijan

Ekho, Baku
14 Apr 04

Text of M. Bagirov’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 14 April
headlined “Contraband from Azerbaijan may be delivered to Armenia”

Large-scale contraband of various goods, including oil products,
through the Azerbaijani-Georgian border represents a serious threat to
economic development both in Georgia and Azerbaijan, Georgian Minister
of State for Small and Medium Enterprise Jambul Bakuradze has told
Ekho. He drew attention to the fact that the main flow of contraband
goods leave Azerbaijan via the checkpoint on the Red Bridge.

The minister said that 80-90 per cent of all smuggled oil products in
Georgia come from Azerbaijan, adding that only a small amount of the
fuel arriving on the Georgian market comes with customs clearance,
most of it is brought in via the smuggling routes. The minister did
not rule out that this fuel is subsequently supplied via illegal
channels to Armenia as well. This is linked to another aspect of
contraband production.

“I do not rule out that goods which are brought from Azerbaijan by
smuggling routes, then go to Armenia through another checkpoint in
Sadakhlo [Armenian-Georgian border],” the state minister said.

Let us not forget that only a few days ago, the financial police from
the Georgian Ministry of Finance sealed up the warehouse and papers of
the Viva limited liability company engaged in oil refinery, which was
preparing to export seven 450-tonne tanks of oil to Armenia. The tax
police say that the oil is in fact a contraband cargo from Azerbaijan.

Yesterday Ekho was told by the press service of the Ministry of
Finance tax police that the investigation into the Viva affair
continues. According to a press service employee, Tei Rusitashvili,
the Armenian company Exim Petrol Group was supposed to receive the
cargo. Rusitashvili said that according to her information, the fuel
was smuggled in by rail from Azerbaijan. As for the cargo sender in
Azerbaijan, Rusitashvili noted that it was still early to talk about
this, since the investigation has just started. The press official of
the tax police of the Ministry of Finance also said that it was a long
way from being the first case of contraband fuel from Azerbaijan.

“The tax police only appeared recently and in all have been working
for one and a half months. In this time they have uncovered about 50
cases of contraband of various goods from Azerbaijan, of which
approximately half are linked to the illegal import of fuel to
Georgia,” said Rusitashvili.

In turn, Georgian Minister Jambul Bakuradze said that attempts by
officials of the appropriate bodies in Georgia to stop the entry of
contraband goods in the border area of the Red Bridge were running up
against serious counterattack from a group of smugglers operating on
both sides of the border. “Very often they play the national card,
announcing oppression by the Georgian customs,” noted the
minister. Bakuradze said that the Georgian authorities were expecting
in the next few days another breach of the border by smugglers in that
area.

He said that there is always a long queue of cars laden with various
goods, including fuel, which “storm through the checkpoint”. “It
sometimes reaches the point of a shoot-out. There is practically a
daily skirmish,” said Bakuradze and added that the question of the
wave of criminality in the border area of the Red Bridge must be
decided as quickly as possible at a government level. The minister
regretfully announced that Azerbaijan’s interest in resolving this
problem was not yet evident and that this substantially hindered the
work of the Georgian law-enforcement bodies.

In the meantime, Bakuradze said that he had recently had the
opportunity to discuss this matter with Azerbaijani Deputy Prime
Minister Abbas Abbasov, who promised the Georgian minister to discuss
the matter in a government session.

A1 Plus | 15:09:09 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |

RALLY IN LOS ANGELES ON APRIL 15

The ruling body of Hnchakyan Social and Democratic Party in Western America
appeared with a statement, condemning violence committed by orders of
illegal Authorities towards April 13 meeting participants.

The statement authors expressed their demands: To cease pursuing Opposition
figures and MPs, to allow people to implement their Constitutional right for
holding peaceful demonstrations, to stop assaulting press representatives
and to remove the obstacles on the way of free activity of local and foreign
TV Companies.

In that connection Hnchakyan Party calls upon the California residents to
assemble on April 15 before Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles and to voice
their support to the population of Armenia.