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Armenia Tree Project Celebrates 10th Anniversary

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  • Armenia Tree Project Celebrates 10th Anniversary

    June 17, 2004

    PRESS RELEASE

    For Immediate Distribution

    Armenia Tree Project
    65 Main Street
    Watertown, MA 02472
    Phone: 617-926-8733
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armeniatree.org

    Armenia Tree Project Celebrates 10th Anniversary
    Special Anniversary Event Held on June 5 in Boston

    BOSTON - The Armenia Tree Project (ATP), one of the few Armenian
    Diaspora-based environmental protection organizations working in
    Armenia, held a special celebration event on June 5 commemorating 10
    years of greening Armenia. The event was held in the Grand Ballroom
    of the Seaport Hotel.

    The evening's program included award presentations, congratulatory
    messages, and honorary speeches as well as dinner and dancing, with
    musical performances by Artie Barsamian's Big Band, the Seventh Veil,
    and the Richard Hagopian Ensemble.

    Ms. Stella Aftandilian, the 10th anniversary committee co-chair,
    opened the program by welcoming and thanking the nearly 600 attendees
    and guests. Several dignitaries were present at the event, including
    Armenian Ambassador to the US Dr. Arman Kirakossian, US Congressman
    Edward Markey, and State Representative Peter Koutoujian.

    ATP Executive Director Mr. Jeff Masarjian was the program's first
    speaker, who briefly discussed the progress the organization has made
    since 1994.

    "The ATP has planted and restored over half a million trees in
    Armenia, while providing jobs for hundreds of people, Mr. Masarjian
    explained. "Our plans for the next decade include expanding our
    community reforestation programs in partnership with villagers and
    other organizations, which will also provide social and economic
    development opportunities. Our new tree nursery in Vanadzor will
    produce over one million saplings each year to begin reforesting the
    devastated landscape of Armenia."

    Mr. Masarjian then introduced a film depicting the ATP's new
    reforestation and poverty reduction programming in remote Armenian
    villages. The 18-minute long film was produced and directed by Kennedy
    Wheatley of Los Angeles.

    Following the film, 10th anniversary committee co-chair Mrs. Annie
    Balikian announced that over $1 million had been raised thus far
    in honor of the ATP's 10th anniversary. These collected funds will
    provide a firm foundation for expanding the ATP's community forestry
    and economic development programs and launching its large-scale
    reforestation program in the northern city of Vanadzor.

    Several ATP staff members based in Yerevan were also in attendance,
    including Country Director Susan Yacubian Klein, Deputy Director Jason
    Kauffeld, and Program Managers Anahit Garibyan-who is the ATP's first
    Yerevan staff member-Samvel Ghandilyan, and Tigran Palazyan.

    Ms. Garibyan discussed the history of the ATP's activities in Armenia,
    and how the two-person staff was at first equipped only with a donated
    laptop computer, working in a corner of the Armenian Assembly of
    America's Yerevan office. She commented on how far the organization
    has grown, citing its multiple accomplishments and the increase of
    the Yerevan office staff to over 45 employees.

    Ms. Carolyn Mugar, the ATP's founder, presented a brief history
    timeline of the organization and how it came into existence, beginning
    with her 1993 visit to Armenia. She honored Dr. Nora Gabrielyan, who
    holds a PhD in botany and is the author of over 16 books studying
    Armenia's diverse plant life. Dr. Gabrielyan spoke about Armenia's
    unique and varied ecosystems and identified examples of rare and
    endangered flowering plants that rely on rapidly disappearing forest
    habitats.

    "The forests, which recently covered only 10% of the territory of
    our country, now cover even less," Dr. Gabrielyan explained. "If
    trees are chopped down without any plan or thoughtful system, the
    consequences will affect everything-underbrush with rare plants
    immediately disappears, the rain washes away soil, springs dry up,
    the biodiversity becomes impoverished, and the climate changes."

    Dr. Gabrielyan is the first recipient of the John T. O'Connor
    Environmental Activist Award, which was presented to her by
    Ms. Mugar. Additionally, Dr. Gabrielyan has been awarded a $25,000
    grant by a private donor for publishing her latest book, printed
    in English and Armenian, titled the "Illustrated Guidebook-Index of
    Armenian Flora."

    Ms. Mugar continued by honoring Ms. Regina Eddy, ATP's former Executive
    Director, for her tireless efforts in guiding the organization during
    its early years. She revealed that Ms. Eddy rose to the challenge of
    spearheading the organization's initial project planning by performing
    extensive research on Armenia's biodiversity as well as the grave
    environmental risks facing the country in modern times. Ms. Eddy was
    honored with a special plaque commemorating her achievements, which
    was accepted by her close friend Ms. Ellen Kurz, due to Ms. Eddy's
    inability to attend the program.

    Another advocate recognized for the preservation of Armenia's
    environment was Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who passed away earlier this
    year. He was a founding member of the Land and Cultural Organization
    and was the chief planner for the renovation of St. Gevorg of Moughni
    Monastery in Armenia, having also planted several hundred trees
    in its surrounding environs. He also served as an advisor to ATP's
    programs in Armenia and inspired the planting of over 19,000 trees
    at 51 church sites during ATP's 1700th Anniversary of Christianity
    in Armenia tree planting campaign in 2001.

    Mr. Robert Aram Kaloosdian, ATP advisor and supporter, gave closing
    remarks and made reflections on the importance of the organization's
    undertakings. Ms. Mugar and her late parents, Stephen and Marion
    Mugar, were also honored for their long-standing commitment to Armenia,
    as plans were revealed to develop a special site for reflection and
    contemplation at the Tsitsernakerberd Armenian Genocide Memorial
    in Yerevan.

    The organization is now gearing up to expand its programs in Armenia,
    which will include large-scale reforestation, social and economic
    development in rural villages, public education, and the promotion
    of sustainable forest management policies.

    The ATP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994
    during Armenia's darkest and coldest years with the vision of
    safeguarding Armenia's future by protecting its environment. Funded
    by contributions from Diasporan Armenians, the ATP has planted and
    rejuvenated 531,000 trees at more than 400 sites ranging from Gyumri
    to Goris.
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