For Immediate Release
January 30, 2006

ARMENIA FUND USA HOSTS A PLANNING MEETING IN NEW YORK, January 21, 2006

Reviewing a detailed action plan for the “Rebirth of Artsakh” with implementation beginning in Spring of 2006

NEW YORK, New York – – Armenia Fund USA, East Coast Affiliate of All-Armenia Fund, hosted a planning meeting on January 21, 2006 with leadership representatives of three affiliates in France, Armenia, and Western United States. The meeting which took place at Armenia Fund USA’s New York offices, evaluated current and future projects and reviewed the plans and goals for implementation of major initiatives for 2006. Among the attendees were Michel Pazoumian, Fonds Arménien de France, Paris, Naira Melkoumian and Ara Vardanyan, Hayastan Himnadram, Yerevan, Maria Mehranian and Sarkis Kotanjian, Armenia Fund Inc., Glendale, California, Kevork Toroyan, and Irina Lazarian, Armenia Fund USA, New York City.

Building on the successes of 2005, the summit outlined the possible expansion of the 2006 projects and initiatives, reviewed and confirmed a detail-oriented action plan for the start of the Rebirth of Artsakh Regional Development Program. Their actions have set the stage for a challenging year as the innovative three-year, three-region initiative – “Rebirth of Artsakh” is launched. This program will significantly improve people’s standards of life in Nagorno Karabakh. “Rebirth of Artsakh” is a three-year strategic development plan that addresses critically needed development such as agricultural development, construction and reconstruction of schools, roads and medical centers, as well as clean water projects.

The Agricultural Initiative, spearheaded by Armenia Fund USA, is the economic underpinning of the “Rebirth of Artsakh” Regional Development Program. The Initiative is a three-region project that will jettison the development of the agricultural economy of Karabakh, thus allowing many of the country’s subsistence family farms to increase production, feed their families more adequately, get their produce to market and thereby contribute to the stabilization of the economy of Karabakh.

Guided always by a strict code of responsibility and transparency to its donors, Armenia Fund USA represents all constituents and friends of Armenians in Eastern United States. It is with great appreciation that Armenia Fund USA thanks all those who so generously have given and will continue to give so that Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will have the chance to lead much healthier and productive lives. The success of this organization to make significant changes in the lives of so many in Armenia and Karabakh has been made possible by its donor constituency and their good-will. The start of the implementation plan of the “Rebirth of Artsakh” will provide momentum for determined action and change in 2006.

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