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The Armenian Reporter | July 26, 2008 21ArmeniaSecuring future generations by honoring ancestorsn Continued from page Mher Sadoyan, director of theATP Armenia Office, spoke aboutthe decision of Caroline Mugar toestablish the Armenia Tree Project.Seeing that tens of thousands oftrees had been cut down during theenergy crisis of the early 90s, Ms.Mugar was moved to act. She realizedthat an environmental tragedywas unfolding. Armenians weredesperate to find wood for heat andfuel and chopped trees down randomly.“An idea was born to starta tree planting project and createnurseries that would later servethe public,” he said. He noted that14 years ago ATP started with 3–4employees and it currently has 80employees in Armenia alone.The “strategicallyimportant” nurserySeyran Ananian, the mayor ofMargahovit, said that the ATP’s MirakFamily Nursery is strategicallyimportant. “In these conditions,first of all, jobs are being createdin the village. The second reasonis that the logged forests will berestored. In other words, we willbe able to bequeath forests and aflourishing nature to our futuregenerations,” said Mr. Ananian.The mayor said that of Margaabout70 percent of the able-bodiedmen in the village have left to findwork abroad, mainly to Russia. Aftertalking to the villagers for a few minutes,it becomes evident that theirnumber-one issue is employment.“The entire territory of the MirakFamily Nursery in Margahovit isfive hectares. Starting in 2009 thenursery will produce about 1 millionyoung saplings of pine, oak,and maple annually,” Mr. Sadoyansaid. He added that 17 people fromMargahovit currently work in theAttaches greatimportance to U.S.-Armenia relationsby Armen HakobyanYEREVAN – On July 21, PresidentSerge Sargsian held a press conferenceto report on the first 100 daysof his presidency. Questions directedto the president by journalistsduring the 90-minute press conferencecovered the domestic politicalsituation, regional cooperation, andinternational relations. The presidentalso spoke at length about theU.S.-Armenia relationship.The president was asked his prioritiesin developing relations betweenthe United States and Armenia.“We attach great importanceto our relations with the UnitedStates,” he said. “The United Stateshas allocated vast financial andhumanitarian aid to Armeniaever since its independence andwe have implemented numerousprojects with the United States.The United States is one of the cochairsof the OSCE Minsk Group,and even today we are continuingto deepen our relations with them.I am sure that in a few months,after the presidential elections inthe United States, we will continuestrengthening our relations withthat country,” Mr. Sargsian said.In response to a question concerningIran-Israel-U.S. relationsand the possibility of Armeniainitiating dialogue between thoseFrom left: Father Arakel Aljalian, Michael (Murielle’s husband), Murielle Mirak, Robert Mirak, and Mher Sadoyan . Photo:Armenian Reporter.nursery. “In the future we hope toincrease their number by another15. At the peak of the season, wehire 300–500 temporary workersin the Gegharkunik and Lori marzesto plant forests.” He noted thatthe monthly wages of the workersinvolved in the forest planting is 45thousand drams ($150).“In terms of reducing poverty,our activities started in the Aygutvillage in Gegharkunik province.Aygut was resettled in 1988–91by refugees from Azerbaijan’sArmenian-populated areas). Wecreated small backyard plots forthem and they have become integratedin the project with stablejobs. We buy young saplings grownthree countries, President Sargsiansaid, “Iran is an important partnerfor us and not only in geopoliticalterms, but also because we havegood cooperation. We have a largeArmenian community in Iran andwe share a common history: wehave lived next to one another forthousands of years. Tens of thousandsof Armenians live in Israel,we share similar tragedies – thememory of the Genocide and theHolocaust. We are good partnerswith the United States; the UnitedStates is one of Armenia’s greatestfriends, more than one million Armenianslive in the United Statesand, of course, we would not wantcomplications in the future. However,on the other hand, I do not believethat this is the occasion whenArmenia should act as a mediatorand offer its services. If one or all ofthose countries should consider usingArmenia’s resources, we wouldbe only too happy to contribute tothe process of peace.”Dialogue with theoppositionAsked about dialogue with oppositionpoliticians, Mr. Sargsian said,“I think that people misunderstandthis. When I say dialogue, I meandialogue with the people, within society,and not dialogue between thepresident of the country and a person,”he said. He added that suchprocesses must be ongoing and “weshould never consider that it is toolate for any kind of dialogue.”Mr. Sargsian was also asked aboutstatements made by oppositionpolitician Levon Ter-Petrossianby them, which are later plantedin nearby forests,” Mr. Sohigiansaid, explaining their approach.The ATP’s backyard nursery microenterpriseprogram was selectedas the National Winner for Armeniaof the Energy Globe Awards,also known as the World Awardfor Sustainability. ATP representativesattended the awards ceremonyon May 26 at the EuropeanParliament in Brussels, where theprogram was selected from among853 projects from 109 nations.Henrik Gabrielian is mayor ofthe Aygut village, which has a populationof 1,100. Some 350 refugeefamilies live there. “We have been cooperatingwith the ATP for five yearsduring one of his rallies. Mr. Ter-Petrossian had said that he is readyto cooperate and engage in a dialoguewith Mr. Sargsian on the conditionthat he release all the politicalprisoners within one day and withone phone call. He was asked whyand are very satisfied and gratefulto them for providing us with jobs.People have jobs, we earn money, wegrow young plants, and sell them tothe organization. We work togetherin harmony like a family and our residentstake care of the planted treesvery well,” Mr. Gabrielian explained.“My father never forgothis motherland”This background underlines the importanceof the Margahovit nurserymade possible by the Mirak family’sdonation, as well as similar initiativesimplemented elsewhere in Armeniaby the ATP, which receives itsfunds from over 3,000 donors.he didn’t respond to this proposal.“If they demand and hope tohold new elections, then whatwould we talk about? When tohold those elections? I am tiredof elections. I believe that thenext national elections will be inFather Arakel Aljalian blessedthe nursery, after which all thosegathered, both the Armeniansfrom the United States and thosefrom Armenia, recited the Lord’sPrayer. Robert Mirak is striking inhis youthfulness and agility. AfterMr. Sohigian’s speech of welcomeand gratitude, Mr. Mirak delivereda speech in Armenian.“Today we will dedicate this nurseryto the memory of John and ArtemisMirak. I am their eldest sonand I am very proud that today I ampresent here with my sister Murielleand her husband Michael,” he said.Noting that his parents were orphansfrom Arabkir, Mr. Mirak saidhis father changed his name “fromZaven Mirakian to John Mirak, inorder to further his success. However,even though he Americanizedhis name, my father never forgothis motherland.“My father passed away in 2000and my mother in 2003. They neverreturned to their birthplace. Myfather, in particular, longed to seehis beautiful Arabkir. I am sad thatmy father and mother are not presenttoday in order to see this amazingnursery, as this nursery bringstogether their favorite things:mountains, trees, and Armenianprojects. Wherever they may betoday, I know that they are happythat this project is stable and prosperous.Our family hopes that thisnursery will flourish and Armeniawill flourish for thousands andthousands of years.”The schoolchildren of Margahovitwho are included in ATP’snature preservation educationalprogram presented a beautiful performancefor the guests and passedout their colorful paintings to theguests on that memorable day.It is to them that the Miraksbequeath a future with theirgenerosity.fArmenia’s president reports on his first 100 days in officeAncient Country, Modern Financial Solutionsfour years, at the right time. Asfar as releasing dozens of peoplewith a single call, that is a verybad temptation, because releasingdozens of people with one callalso means imprisoning dozens ofpeople with a single call.” fAn integrated financial services group offeringinnovative, flexible, affordable, easy access intermediationto a broad customer base,and a progressive forceencouraging investmentinto Armenia.