Transferring knowledge into practice

2013 LFP Reciprocal Travel Program for U.S. Participants

PROJECT SUMMARY

“Transferring knowledge into practice”

Implementing country: Armenia

Visiting Experts: Ms. Erica Lyman, Lewis & Clark Law School, Clinical Professor of Law, International Environmental Law Project.

Mr. Randy Tucker, Legislative affairs manager at Metro Regional Council,

Lobbyist at the Oregon State Legislature

Hosting Institution: Yerevan State University, Faculty of Law,

Environmental Law Research Center (ELRC)

Hosting expert: Mr. Gor Movsisyan , Research Fellow at ELRC,

Lecturer of Environmental Law at the YSU Faculty of Law, LFP alumnus

Dates of visit: 02 – 07 September, 2013

PRO JECT GOAL

The implementation of the project

Goal 1. Promote cooperation between the United States and Armenian institutions in the field of environmental law and policy.

Goal 2. Disseminate information among the stakeholders on the experience of Armenia and the US in the field of environmental law and policy (protection, preservation and use of natural resources).

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Objective 1. - To implement a round-table at ELRC on the means of transferring scientific knowledge into practice: the topic-the mechanisms at the universities (e.g. Law clinics in Lewis & Clark Law school and Law Faculty of YSU), bill initiatives by Oregon Metro and the Ministry of nature protection of Armenia (e.g. concept of land management in Oregon and the issue of agricultural land management in Armenia) and the experience of ELRC (e.g. public hearings, expertise on bills).

Objective 2. - Create and maintain an internet resource based on the Yerevan State University Environmental Law Research Center (hence ELRC) web page (www.elrc.ysu.am) which will provide up to date information on the developments of environmental legislation, law science and policy both in Armenia and the US.

DAY 1

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Meeting with the Faculty Members

In order to secure full achievement of the project goals, in particular establishment of cooperation between the scientific institutions of Armenia and the US the first day of the US visiting experts started at the Environmental Law Research Center of Law Faculty of YSU. During the discussion head of the Center -Aida Iskoyan - and the Research Fellows of the Center –Heghin Hakhverdyan, Laura Petrosyantz presented the activities of the research hub and had an opportunity to get acquainted with the experience of visiting specialists in the identical field of expertise.

Visit to the University Museum

The broader introduction to the activities Yerevan State University continued in the Museum of the University, which tells the story of it in a more descriptive way.

At the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

The same idea had the meeting which took place at the American University of Armenia, Acopian Center for the Environment. The head of the Center gave an overview of the Center’s activities in different directions alike protection of the environment as a result of mining, protection of wild species etc. covering as well the legal matters of environmental protection.

Experience Exchange at the Ministry of Nature Protection

The first business day ended at the Ministry of nature protection of the Republic of Armenia. The head of the Secretary and the representative of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Ministry gave an overview of the structure and the functions of the Ministry and shared the experience of the US participants on environmental governance in the US.

When the business day came to the end the US guests enjoyed Armenian food with the Law Faculty members.

DAY 2, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Visit to the Parliament

The second day started by the visit to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia. The US guests were accepted by the two deputy heads of the Staff of the National Assembly –Eric Minasyan and Tatul Soghomonyan. The main point of the discussion was the legislative process in Armenia and the possibility of introducing the institute of lobbying to the legislative process in Armenia. The role of the Parliament in shaping the rule of law has as well been at the core of the exchange of experience that took place among the participants.

More specific discussion on the law-making in the field environmental protection took place at the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment. The expert of the Committee Hermine Poghosyan introduced the bills (Law draft on Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise, Law draft on Self-Control to comply with the requirements of environmental legislation etc.) awaiting adoption of the Parliament.

Meeting with the Dean

After the visit to the parliament the US guests had an opportunity to meet with the Dean of Law Faculty. He gave an overview of the activities of the faculty and expressed the readiness to assist to the continuation of the cooperation between the US institutions and the Law Faculty under the various opportunities that the exchange or similar programs open for the researches.

The Matenadaran

The end of the second day was marked by the Visit to Matenadaran (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts). This was the great opportunity to reach to the deeps of Armenian culture and to understand the history of nation.

Participants also attended the National Museum of Art.

DAY 3, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Lecture at the Center

The lecture for the student at ELRC had caused an unprecedented interest among the students both of the faculties of YSU and other educational institutions. Erica Lyman introduced the Environmental Law Program taught at the Lewis & Clark Law School as well as the peculiarities of teaching and underlined the importance of gaining practical lawyer's skills while studying. the Lewis & Clark Law Scholl has been the first in the US to have environmental law program.

The report by Mr. Randy Tucker was devoted to the lobbying institution in the US as an effective way of cooperation with the elected legislature. He told the student the good, bad and ugly about his work and mentioned what one needs to become a successful lobbyist. First among those qualities is the ability to create connections.

The event has been highlighted in the following mass media; http://www.ysu.am/news/en/1378289629

http://elrc.ysu.am/?page=news&id=174&type=5&language_id=2

Meeting with the US Ambassador in Armenia

The participants of the program were welcomed at the US Embassy in Armenia by the Ambassador John A. Heffern. Several items become the subject of the discussion related to the overall idea of the program. During the meeting it was highlighted as well that under the program the experience and the regulation of the Portland Zoo governed by the Metro Regional Council had been used to elaborate a new safety regulations for the Yerevan Zoo. The both US and Armenian participants of the program had an opportunity as well to share their experience on various program related issues.

Visit to the Genocide Museum and Memorial

A visit to the Genocide Museum and Memorial has been organized for the US guests.

DAY 4

SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
Round Table on Land Management

The fourth day of the program was wholly dedicated to the round table on land management.

The event was attended by the Country Director of the American Councils Ms. Elvira E. Dana, representatives of the National Assembly of RA, UNDP, local and regional NGOs.

The round-table was aimed to share the experience compiled, to value the achievements and seek for solutions to address the challenges. The following themes were on the agenda: Land use management and regional governance in the Portland, Oregon, USA metropolitan area, The Land and Soil as an object of legal protection within the system of environmental law, the case law on land management issues in Oregon, The challenges of the land management in Armenia, Involvement of Armenia in the regional land protection programs, Willamette Falls Legacy Project.

The was covered by the Armenia TV channel and via the following means of electronic media

http://elrc.ysu.am/?page=news&id=175&type=5&language_id=2

http://armenpress.am/arm/news/731556/erevanum-kqnnarkven-hayastani-ev-amn-i-hoxayin-resursneri.html

http://www.ysu.am/news/en/1378375104

Visit to Cascade and Gafesjian Centre for the Arts

During the entire program the US guests had an opportunity as well to explore the capital city Yerevan. Among the different places that had a chance to visit Gafesjian Centre for the Arts and to see the capital city from the highest point.

DAY 5

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

Visit to Lake Sevan

The September 6 started by the visit to one of the most beautiful natural sights of Armenia –Lake Sevan. The occupation of the US guests has made this trip quite interesting so far as the Lake Sevan is the one of the world’s reserves of fresh water.

Pre-Departure Orientation

The prospective fellows of the Legislative Fellowship Program had a unique opportunity to listen to the first hand experience of the US participants of the exchange program. Within the scope of the pre-departure orientation carried out by the American Councils for International Education in Armenia Erica Lyman and Randy Tucker brought their experience on both hosting Gor Movsisyan as a fellow and being a visiting-participant of the program in Armenia.

The exchange of ideas had continued later around the dinner table.

THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT

SOURCE ON LEGISLATION AND CASE LAW

One of the objectives of the project was to create and maintain a web source which will provide information on the federal and state legislation and case law related to the environmental protection. With this in mind under the section Resources of the ELRC web-page special subsections had been developed. Three main pillars in two languages (Armenian and English) – Case Law on Environmental Protection, Federal Environmental Laws and Regulations, Landmark Environmental Legislation of Oregon State-create the content of the web page.

HOST FAMILY

The US guests were hosted by the Avetik family. The house in the countryside with interesting Armenian architecture and the interaction with Armenian family in its turn contributed a lot to the cultural exchange that is one of the principal ideas of this program.