News
For Immediate Release
December 30, 2005
Contact: Arpiné Kocharyan
Tel: (212) 689-5307
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 18 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 the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
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 18 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 region, aimed specifically
at improving the lot of subsistence farmers and, through them,
developing the Republic’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
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, 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
go to our website at www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org
or call us at 212-689-5307.
Armenia Fund USA, 152 Madison Ave., Suite 803,
New York, NY 10016
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