FOUNDATION DENIES BEING PAID FOR EACH TREE

Armenia Tree Planting Project benevolent foundation and Synopsis Company planted 400 trees in Victory Park last November. Bella Avetisyan, public relations coordinator of the foundation, says the foundation also plants trees at the suggestion of non-commercial organization and closely works with them.

According to our sources, Synopsis paid the foundation for tree planting. Avetisyan said the company acted as a local donor and did not pay for the trees or rendered services. The foundation assures such cases are very rare.

However, Gayane Markosyan, public relations responsible of Synopsis, assures they have paid $15 per each tree and have also ensured that the trees will be later taken care of. Markosyan refused to announce the total sum paid referring to company policy.

Strangely enough, the foundation also refused to publish its annual financial report saying it is a commercial secret. According to the law on Freedom of Information, non-commercial organizations must publish their annual financial reports. Mher Sadoyan, foundation vice director said, they submit the financial report only to their headquarters in Boston.

The foundation operates on the funds donated by our co-nationals living abroad. For example, in 2004-2005 Gafestchyan, Hovhnanyan families, Charles G. Talanyan family foundation, and Michael Ohanyan donated more than $100,000 each to the foundation. The number of donors does not limit to that.