For Immediate Release
December 14, 2009

ARMENIA FUND USA HOSTS NAGORNO-KARABAKH DELEGATION HEADED BY PRIME MINISTER HARUTUNIAN

NEW YORK, New York — Armenia Fund USA was pleased to welcome to the United States, the Nagorno-Karabakh Prime Minister, who made the trip to meet with the Eastern US Armenian-American community and rally support for the newly launched Shushi Revitalization program. The visits took place within the framework of Armenia Fund’s Thanksgiving Telethon, an annual fundraising event that brings together Armenians from every continent of the world to join in the efforts to rebuild the Homeland.

This year, it was all about Shushi, a province in Karabakh that once served as a cultural and administrative center of the region. This is why the Prime Minister’s visit was so timely.

During his five-day stay in Eastern United States, the Prime Minister visited the Eastern Diocese where his delegation met with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese; Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral and Garnik Nanagoulian, executive director of the Fund for Armenian Relief. Representatives then met at the Diocesan Complex to discuss recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Diaspora's contributions to Karabakh's growth, and the annual Thanksgiving Telethon.

During the visit, the delegation also visited the Armenian Missionary Association of America, where they discussed projects and outreach programs implemented by AMAA in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Prime Minister thanked AMAA for their active involvement in Shushi with the Bedrosian Summer Camp and the Bilezikian kindergartens. He also presented the urgent need of renovating the kindergarten in Hadrut.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by the UN Ambassador Garen Nazarian at the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations. Various media and agency representatives such as Noyan Tapan, Ardzagang, New Meridian, etc were present at the reception and had an opportunity to interview the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also met with representatives of Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Jewelry Association and other organizations.

The New York visit was concluded with a fundraising dinner reception at Flemings, hosted by Hagop Kouyoumdjian and chaired by Khoren Bandazian, to benefit the Revitalization of Shushi. Nearly $70,000 was raised that night, thanks to the generosity of community leaders and supporters, who enjoyed the intimate atmosphere and an inspirational video that passed on messages from Shushi residents of their desire to remain and thrive in this historic land.

"This is event is another example of the generosity of the Diaspora in connection with the rebuilding of this war-torn region.  We all recognize the strategic importance of Shushi and are committing the full support of Armenia Fund to its redevelopment.  We express our deepest gratitude to all who attended and donated to the event, especially our host for the evening Mr. & Mrs. Hagop and Ica Kouyoumdjian.  We also wish to thank Prime Minister Harutunian and his delegation for their kind and inspirational words.

The delegation’s next stop – Boston, started with visiting the Phonathon site housed at ACEC where the Fund’s leadership and volunteers were about to start their four-day Phonathon fundraising campaign to raise funds toward revitalizing the Shushi Province.

Mr. Harutyunyan visited head offices of Boston Globe and Hayrenik newspapers where he discussed with the journalists and other community representatives and leaders not only the Karabakh peace process, but also the socio-economic situation in rural areas.

Prime Minister Harutunian pointed to the success of Armenia Fund in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Fund’s contribution to the preschool system development in some of the most underserved regions. He expressed hope that the bond between Armenia Fund and Karabakh will become stronger with each project – with every new hospital, school or water system built. “This is so because Armenia Fund affects change on the ground, and that change people feel in their daily lives. This is what is different about the Fund”.

Over 500 representatives of the Armenian-American community attended the November 20th reception held in honor of the newly arrived delegation. At the event, Nagorno-Karabakh Premier awarded Raffi Festekjian, Chairman of Armenia Fund USA, a commemorative medal for the successful implementation of numerous projects in Karabakh. In attendance to this meeting were also the leader of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosian, Spokesman to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh David Babayan and Nagorno-Karabakh Permanent Representative to the United States Robert Avetisian.

The Prime Minister also met with representatives of Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Assembly of America and other organizations. The Boston visit was concluded with a fundraising dinner reception hosted at his residence by the Chairman of Armenia Fund USA, Raffi Festkejian, to benefit Revitalization of Shushi.

The delegation left for Los Angeles to participate at the 12th Annual International Telethon that marked yet another year of achievements, raising over $15.8 million in pledges and direct contributions for Shushi. This multilevel project promises to boost village economy and create opportunities through the construction of schools, healthcare facilities, drinking water systems, access roads and many other socio-economic necessities.

ARMENIA FUND USA — founded in 1992 — was one of the first of Armenia Fund’s 16 international affiliates and 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 16 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.

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