Press Release
December 1, 2004

Another Green Zone Created in Malatia-Sebastia Community: Italian Embassy Inaugurates ‘Italian-Armenian Meeting Point Park’

Italian Ambassador to Armenia Marco Clemente (left) planting a tree with ATP Country Director Susan Yacubian Klein at the newly established "Italian Armenian Meeting Point Park

YEREVAN--Over the past three years, the Embassy of Italy and Armenia Tree Project (ATP) have been successfully collaborating on the creation of a unique “Italian Armenian Meeting Point Park.” This new green zone is located in the southwest district of the Malatia-Sebastia community, and it occupies a 1,000 square meter territory.

Since 2001, ATP has organized three tree plantings at this location with the Italian Embassy. More than 200 fruit and decorative trees have been planted at the site. This new park will supply Malatia-Sebastia residents with clean air, shade, noise reduction, and beautiful trees.

The inauguration ceremony for the “Italian Armenian Meeting Point Park” was held on December 1. The Ambassador of Italy to Armenia, Marco Clemente, and his wife Maria Rosaria opened the event by planting a tree to symbolize the friendly and flourishing relationship between Italy and Armenia.

Italian Ambassador to Armenia Marco Clemente (right) was interviewed by journalists at the inauguration of "Italian Armenian Meeting Point Park" in the Malatia-Sebastia community

The event was widely covered by the media in Armenia, which interviewed Ambassador Clemente and ATP Country Director Susan Yacubian Klein. “This is my first tree planting experience,” Ambassador Clemente told journalists. “I hope this park will become a good reason for returning here again, in 10 years, along with my children.”

ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's future by protecting its environment and advancing its socio-economic development by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation and community tree planting. ATP uses trees to improve the standard of living of Armenians, promoting self-sufficiency and aiding those with fewest resources first. In its first 10 years, ATP has planted and rejuvenated 580,000 trees at more than 500 sites in 11 regions of Armenia.

For additional information or to support ATP, write to 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472, or call (617) 926-TREE.

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