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US Ambassador John Evans and ATP Celebrate Earth Day

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  • US Ambassador John Evans and ATP Celebrate Earth Day

    Armenia Tree Project
    57/5 Arshakunyats Street
    Yerevan, Armenia 0026
    Tel: (37410) 44 74 01
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armeniatree.org

    Press Release
    April 28, 2006

    US Ambassador John Evans and ATP Celebrate Earth Day

    YEREVAN -- On April 21, US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and
    Mrs. Donna Evans marked Earth Day and Arbor Day in a ceremonial tree
    planting initiated by Armenia Tree Project (ATP). Ambassador Evans
    and honored guests planted evergreens on a specially prepared plot
    at ATP's nursery in the refugee village of Karin.

    In cooperation with the US Embassy, invited high ranking authorities,
    and a number of international and local organizations, this event
    coincided with worldwide environmental celebrations and was organized
    to raise broader public awareness of ecological issues in Armenia. The
    date of the ceremony was chosen in observance of the traditional Earth
    Day and Arbor Day festivities, marked globally on April 21 and April
    29, respectively.

    Special guests in attendance included Minster of Nature Protection
    Vardan Ayvazyan and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan. The
    ceremonial tree planting was preceded by welcoming remarks from
    Ambassador Evans and ATP Director of Operations Vache Kirakosyan. A
    reception followed in ATP's Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental
    Education Center.

    Ambassador Evans expressed his heartfelt gratitude to ATP for
    organizing the celebration and added that, "Planting another seedling
    on Armenian land is a great pleasure." While touring the nursery,
    the US Ambassador was impressed by the condition of nursery and the
    work ATP has been able to do in Armenia.

    The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Samvel Galstyan, also stressed the
    significant role played by ATP: "Armenia Tree Project is reforesting
    Armenia, and their mission is extremely important. Such an initiative
    not only restores Armenia's greenery, but helps to solve other
    interrelated ecological problems and diminish pollution, which is
    necessary for keeping our environment clean."

    In his remarks, the Minster of Nature Protection did not expect
    the increase in the price of natural gas to result in additional
    tree cutting, since Armenia is developing alternative sources of
    renewable energy. "This will not lead us to mass tree cutting as
    before," stated Minster Ayvazyan. "There are real possibilities for
    using renewable energy, and Armenia has several alternative sources
    which can produce enough energy."

    ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's future
    by protecting its environment and restoring its degraded forests. ATP
    advances Armenia's socio-economic development by mobilizing resources
    for large-scale reforestation, community-based tree planting,
    environmental education and advocacy, and rural development through
    job creation. With the establishment of the Mirak Family reforestation
    nursery and expansion of the backyard nursery program in the Getik
    River Valley, ATP is working toward the goal of planting over one
    million trees in 2006.

    PHOTO CAPTION: US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans (center) with ATP
    Director of Operations Vache Kirakosyan (right) during the ceremonial
    tree planting in observance of Earth Day and Arbor Day
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