On August 24-26 an international workshop of CITES /Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora / will be held on the initiative of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection, with the participation of 25 National Focal Points /NFPs/ of Convention uponhosting over 8 delegates from the CIS, European and Asian countries. The workshop scope focuses on transfer of a number of animal species (large reptiles, sharks, African grey parrots, African lions) from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I, combating the trade in ivory and live elephants; their international trade and transit will be enforced, regulated, supervised by local authorities making a major contribution to reduction of the amount of illegal trading as well as implementing traded-related preservation of the above mentioned species. Welcoming the workshop participants, RADeputy Minister of Nature Protection Khacik Hakobyan notified, that the Republic of Armenia has joined the Convention /CITES/ since 2008 and already in 2009 the RA Government adopted a decree on regulating import or export of species of wild fauna and flora as well wildlife products. The Republic of Armenia implements CITES closely collaborating with international partners. ''In the course of a three-day workshop all documents to be addressed at the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES will be considered. As a result of the discussions coherent approaches will be made which the representatives will apply while participating in the Conference of the Parties to CITES /CoP17/ on September 22” Kh. Hakobyan stated. The Founder of Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), Ruben Khachatryan and his foundation, highlighting wild fauna and flora conservation and cooperating with the RA Ministry of Nature Protection noted, that this is already the second debate organized which combats illicit wildlife trade thus improving the effectiveness of the partnership among countries.           Maria Vorontsova, the Head of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)'s Russian branch, expressing her gratitude for organizing of the workshop in Armenia, submitted ongoing works and further issues to be discussed within the frameworks of CITES Convention.  The meeting held in Yerevan is also directed to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITEC (CoP17) in South Africa, which will be attended by the RA MNP Delegation, moreover it will facilitate the formation of a coordinated approach of the Representatives from Eurasian countries. Besides, the first day of the seminar the partakers paid a visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and paid tribute to memory of Armenian Genocide victims. The seminar was organized by the RA Ministry of Nature Protection and Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC)with the support of The Pew Charitable Trusts and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Reference The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between the Governments; its objective is to regulate wildlife trade and preservation. CITES monitors and regulates the export, import re-export and transportation of wild animals and plants by land or sea through issuing relevant permits. The Republic of Armenia was bound by CITES Convention in 2009 and has an appropriate delegate represented by the RA Ministry of Nature Protection.