This is an interesting post, but just for the record Armenia is NOT Eastern Europe.  It could be all that hummus and boereg they're feedint you out there, but calling Armenia Eastern Europe, is akin to calling Iran (it's neighbor) Eastern Europe.  Armenia is in Western Asia (though East of Turkey).  Oh, and why might this be important?  Perhaps because space and place is so important to the way we think about environmental issues and geopolitical issues to which (as this article attests) they are connected.  Given the current U.S. climate with regard to Iran and the Middle East (hint, there are indeed many Christians in the Middle East -- Armenians are one of the biggest minority groups there), it may be tempting to only focus on the region in terms of violence -- and split off other discussions that don't easily comply with our often slanted relationship to it.  But there are indeed environmental initiatives (such as this one), along with numerous other facets and concerns endemic to the region, as well.  In fact, I'd be interested in reading more articles/posts about the Middle East/Western Asia and North Africa and the environmental challenges and initiatives taking place there.  Water is obviously a huge issue there, but there are other concerns as well.