For Immediate Release
December 30, 2005

ARMENIA FUND USA: 2005 IN RETROSPECT

Armenia’s largest Regional Development Initiative launched in 2005 with implementation beginning in 2006!

NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA, East Coast Affiliate of Hayastan Himnadram, is pleased to report that the year of 2005 was marked by challenges, great successes, changes, improvements and new bold undertakings for the organization. The compassion and support of our donors and friends have made possible the initiation of an impressive range of major large-scale infrastructure projects. To date, the investments of our donors have produced practical and visible results: the successful completion of many initiatives has set the stage for a major shift from funding separate projects to a more holistic development approach – a three-year regional development initiative put forward and approved by 19 affiliates of Hayastan Himnadram at the annual meeting in the summer of 2005.

Over the last several years Armenia Fund USA has largely contributed to the construction of the two major highways linking the region at most important economics crossroads – Goris-Stepanakert Highway, 41 miles of road allowing exchange between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and providing people with food, basic supplies and equipment, and North-South Highway that, when completed, will link over 100 towns and villages via the capital of Stepanakert. The road, often referred to as, the “backbone” of Karabakh is uniting the entire region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

2005 was also a year of bold medical initiatives: the Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center of Stepanakert, which will open soon, has the unique distinction of being the only medical facility in the region that the population can rely on in case of medical emergencies and for preventive care in the region. Armenia Fund USA has provided training as well as technology equipment, including ultrasound x-ray, ECG, EEG, and MRI equipment.

Waterways initiative funded by donors to provide drinking water to some of the rural villages in Nagorno-Karabakh has been another crucial project. Since the economic turmoil that was caused by the war with Azerbaijan and the blockade that followed, the people of Nagorno- Karabakh have struggled daily with water issues which seriously endanger their health and hamper the economic development of the region. The Waterways Initiative launched by Armenia Fund USA focuses on reconstruction and development of effective and sustainable waterway systems and pipelines in several villages. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh, heavily dependent upon agriculture economically, rely on irrigation to water their firms and garden, and need a safe clean resource of water for consumption.

The North South Highway, near completion, has become the economic backbone of Nagorno-Karabakh providing a transport system by which farmers can get to market, and industrial imports and exports can efficiently move through the region. But even with this the economy of Nagorno-Karabakh needs a major boost to reduce poverty in the country and open new roads leading towards self-sustainable development and economic mobility. This is one of the major reasons why all 19 affiliates of Hayastan Himnadram unanimously agreed to launch the Rebirth of Artsakh, a three-region, three-year regional development program. The main components of this comprehensive strategic plan – agriculture, housing, medical facilities and schools are designed to provide self-sufficient and sustainable economic development. Since the economy of Karabakh is so much dependent on agriculture, the Agro-Initiative, spearheaded by Armenia Fund USA, will provide critically needed support to subsistence farmers to help them move from mere existence to sustainable economic viability.

Armenia Fund USA has set the stage for a broad agricultural assistance program in the Nagorno-Karabakh, aimed specifically at improving the lot of subsistence farmers and, through them, developing the region’s agricultural riches. The Agricultural Initiative, the economics underpinning of the Rebirth of Artsakh Regional Development Program, has chosen Mardakert as the first of three regions in which to develop the agricultural economy of Karabakh.

Starting in 2006, Agricultural Development Associations (ADAs) will be established throughout the Mardakert region. These ADAs will set up facilities to own, maintain and operate various types of appropriate farm equipment and provide mechanized services to farmers, to work the land at affordable rates. The ADAs will provide a technology package including access to farm equipment (tractors, harvesters, haying) along with other support elements such as fertilizer, plus training in farm management and animal husbandry. The full program of the Agricultural Initiative for the Mardakert region alone requires $3.0 million funding to serve the region’s population of 17,000.

Armenia Fund USA has also launched several fundraising initiatives in 2005, the traditional Thanksgiving telethon, a phonathon that was conducted with help of Armenia Fund USA’s volunteers, fundraising events and a dinner hosting the president of Nagorno-Karabakh, Mr. Arkady Ghoukassian. These undertakings helped not only raise funds for many of the projects that are still ongoing or are planned to be launched in 2006, but also be close to the Armenian community involving them in all of the organization’s life-changing initiatives.

The strong determination of Armenia Fund USA and its supporters to continue the expansion of current projects and initiatives has been the driving force behind continued success and expectations for the coming 2006 year. With the help of our supporters, we are optimistic and hold to the hope that the coming year will result in even better results for a thriving future for Karabakh and Armenia.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 19 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 19 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.

Armenia Fund USA
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 301
New York, NY 10038