The AUA School of Public Health and AUA Acopian Center for the Environment along with the Blacksmith Institute organized a round table discussion about the need to develop a National Action Plan for resolving the problem of toxic waste sites in Armenia. Experts from the Ministries of Health, Nature Protection, and Emergency Situations, as well as from the World Bank and the European Union participated in the round table. Blacksmith Institute’s Andrew McCartor, Regional Program Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and David Hanrahan, Chief Technical Advisor, came to Armenia for this meeting.
Andrew McCartor presented the Toxic Site Identification Program globally and in Armenia and explained the methodology of the initial site assessment. Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, Associate Dean of the School of Public Health, presented the summary findings from 25 communities in Armenia affected by different toxic sites.
After the presentations, the participants of the round table discussion made recommendations on the process of developing the National Action Plan for Armenia, planned to be completed in 2013.
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