For Immediate Release
November 3, 2006

ARMENIA FUND USA’s AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION CREATES JOBS IN WAR-TORN VILLAGES OF KARABAKH

NEW YORK, New York – 18 villages that make up the Mardakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh are among the first communities to benefit from the opening of an agricultural cooperative for subsistence farmers established this summer within Armenia Fund USA’s Agricultural Initiative. The official opening of the facilities was on September 23, 2006. About 900 farming households will have access to badly needed mechanized services and technical advice from US agricultural experts. This would represent a significant portion of Mardakert’s population.

The project, which is part of the Regional Development of Nagorno-Karabakh, aims at combating rural poverty by raising the average family income through improved agricultural practices and technical assistance. More than this, 30 families are currently benefiting from a pilot 3-year community development program co-managed by Armenia Fund USA and Heifer International. The pilot program will provide seeds, fertilizers, cows and technical assistance in animal husbandry. Armenia Fund USA and its international affiliates are also constructing 8 schools, a hospital, and a major water-pipeline in the Mardakert region.

Armenia Fund USA’s Regional Development Program, launched last year, is an integrated approach to rural poverty eradication in the war-torn villages. It focuses on sustainability and continuity of development, combining local expertise and need assessment of rural communities. The project encompasses all key aspects of socio-economic development – access to education, proper healthcare, and clean water, as well as sustainable infrastructure to support irrigation water systems, roads and agricultural development.

Armenia Fund USA, with its international affiliates, has had a strong and measurable impact on the development of Karabakh and Armenia since independence. The organization remains the largest contributor to socio-economic infrastructure projects there since 1992, having invested more than $150 million in large-scale infrastructure.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of 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. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

Armenia Fund USA and its worldwide affiliates have invested more than $150 million in sustainable development in Armenia and Karabakh. This makes the Fund the largest contributor to critical infrastructure projects in almost all aspects of socio-economic activity.

The list of completed projects include:

• 138 miles of highways
• 59 schools
• 20 hospitals and healthcare clinics
• 81 miles of drinking water pipeline
• 222 housing projects
• 3 major electric transmission networks

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