For Immediate Release
August 31, 2006

ARMENIA FUND USA JOINS
THE CIVIL SOCIETY VOICE OF THE UN

NEW YORK, New York – “If the United Nations’ global agenda is to be properly addressed, a partnership with civil society at large is not an option, it is a necessity.” This is how United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan defines non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs) partnership with the world body and the importance of a unified vision to tackle global challenges that range from poverty eradication to provision of clean drinking water, from halting the spread of deadly disease to bringing sustainability in the social and economic development of the world’s impoverished.

Approved by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Department of Public Information (DPI) in July 2006, Armenia Fund USA joined the United Nations’ family of NGOs as an organization with extensive expertise in international development and humanitarian activities in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. In its capacity to support the aims and most humane purposes of the world organization and more than 1500 NGOs that work closely with it, the Fund’s accreditation to the United Nations comes as a continuous commitment to its mission of bringing long-term sustainable development to men, women and children in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Although having always had strong ties with civil society and private sector, the United Nations’ relations with NGOs have significantly evolved over the past twenty years. This broadening included a very active inclusion of a wide range of entities, global organizations of various missions, and, most importantly, civil society groups in the day-to-day work and decision making of the UN. From the peripheral part, initially assigned to them, these actors today play a major role in raising awareness on a wide range of issues on a global level.

The UN Department of Public Information is the central source of information dissemination about the work of the UN and its cooperation with the civil society. More than 1,500 non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups are currently associated with the UN through the DPI.

Founded in 1992 as part of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund and incorporated as Armenia Fund USA in 1995, the Fund’s mission is providing large-scale infrastructure and self-sustainable development to Armenia and Karabakh. Initially mandated with the task of providing humanitarian aid following Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union, the Fund has evolved over years into an organization that has an impressive track record of having successfully completed a diverse range of large-scale infrastructure and self-sustainable development programs in the region. From combating poverty to providing jobs, empowering farming communities in poor and rural areas to strengthening civil society’s involvement in the development and transition process of Armenia, the Fund has largely contributed to the overall economic development, social reform and encouragement of civic activism in the country.

Today Armenia Fund USA joins the forum of like-minded organizations and partners to promote higher standards of living toward social progress and development.

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