For Immediate Release
February 16, 2007

ARMENIA FUND USA HOLDS
“JAZZIN’ CELEBRATION:
A BETTER WORLD BECAUSE OF YOU”
AT THE UNITED NATIONS

NEW YORK, New York — Armenia Fund USA is pleased to announce that Jazzing Celebration: A Better World Because of You was held at the United Nations on February 8, 2007 bringing together young professionals and benefactors of the Fund from all walks of life. Co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN NGLS) and UN Jazz Society, and organized by Armenia Fund’s Junior Executive Committee, the evening highlighted the strong bond between civil-society and the UN within the context of the invaluable expertise that organizations like Armenia Fund bring to the international community in areas of social and economic development. The event also unveiled the beginning of a very significant year for Armenia Fund USA as this year the organization is marking its 15^th anniversary of continuous presence and development work in Karabakh and Armenia since independence.

Ambassador Armen Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations

Armenia’s membership to the United Nations has been one of the defining features of its independence and statehood. Representing the Republic at the world organization is Ambassador Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, who opened the evening with an inspiring message on Armenia’s achievements, economic and political, and the role that Armenia Fund has played in the long path of nation-building since independence. He referred to the Fund’s creation, its mandate and evolvement into one of the biggest development agencies operating in Armenia today.

Elisa Peter, Chief and Deputy Coordinator, United Nations NGLS

Raffi Festekjian, Chairman, Armenia Fund USA

Elisa Peter, Chief and Deputy Coordinator of UN- NGLS in New York, joined the Ambassador in welcoming the guests. “Armenia is a one of the oldest and most historic civilizations in the world with a rich cultural heritage, at the confluent of diverse cultures, and with ancient traditions and a fascinating history”, she said. More recently, Armenia has distinguished itself by being one of the countries in the region with the highest Human Development Index among the Transcaucasian republics (2005 UN Human Development Report). The role and importance of this organization in contributing to the development of Armenia is widely acknowledged. The work of Armenia Fund illustrates the key role that Civil Society Organizations play in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, especially eradication of rural poverty. It also illustrates the power of the diasporas to contribute to economic growth and employment generation in their ancestral homelands. “I would like to finish congratulating Armenia Fund USA for their numerous contributions, dedication and commitment to the Armenian people and for being a model of an organization putting words into action”, she concludes.

(L to R) Taline Festekjian, Raffi Festekjian, Elisa Peter, Ambassador Martirosyan

Raffi Festekjian, newly elected Chairman of Armenia Fund, took the floor calling on young people to become part of Fund’s 2007 activities. He outlined those activities in light of the upcoming 15^th Anniversary celebrations and the village development program that will dominate Fund’s agenda of action for the year.

Jazz…cocktails and… development…Young people with innovative and never ending ideas have always been a unique source of support for Armenia Fund USA., and when these ideas take the Fund to global forums, the message becomes more all-encompassing and reflective of its bigger mission. The event was made possible largely by the dedication and support of Armenia Fund USA Junior Executive Committee – Taline Festekjian, Arsineh Kazazian, Tanya Ajay, Chake Papazian and Lisa Charkoudian, whose vision made the event vibrant, dynamic and different!

Armenia Fund Junior Executive Committee: (L to R) Chake Papazian, Arsineh Kazazian, Taline Festekjian, Tanya Ajay, Lisa Charkoudian

Since 1992, Armenia Fund USA has been involved in hundreds of projects in the field of education, infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance and healthcare. Building new schools, establishing medical centers, providing water for sanitation and irrigation, and road construction while at the same time following UN-related processes, have made Armenia Fund USA an organization on the cutting-edge of linking the local to the global, and helping to implement global commitments at the national level.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.

Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, please visit our website at
www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org or call us at 212-689-5307.