For Immediate Release
May 20, 2005

THE GIFT OF WATER BROUGHT TO NOR EDESSIA, ARMENIA

Armenian Businessman Partners with Armenia Fund USA To Bring Residents of Nor Edessia Water, an Easier Life and Greater Prosperity

NEW YORK, New York — The days of Armenian women carrying heavy jugs of water on their shoulders and treading miles to transport water to their homes may have past. Yet, today many towns throughout Armenia do not have water, a key resource so easily taken for granted in the Western world and so badly needed in Armenia.

Recently, an Armenian businessman saddened to hear of the lack of water in the town of Nor Edessia became inspired to bring water to the residents of that town. Vasken Kassabian of Long Island, New York partnered with Armenia Fund USA on The Water Rehabilitation Project for Nor Edessia, to bring residents water, an easier and healthier life as well as prosperity. Nor Edessia will receive a reliable and safe water supply, improved drinking water quality and enhanced water access for more sanitary conditions.

“My father was from Edessia (Urfa), a town of 40,000 Armenians. About 20,000 Armenians died there in the massacres at the turn of the 20th century,” said Kassabian. He first learned about Nor Edessia’s water plight last year from the Armenian Argentinean Urfatsis. In his mid-twenties while in Beirut, Lebanon, Kassabian witnessed his father bring water to a small Armenian village. “What my father did was a hint to what I needed to do for Nor Edessia,” said Kassabian.

When Kassabian heard the current plight of Nor Edessia residents, he was determined to come to their aid and fund the Water Rehabilitation Project in that village entirely himself through the work that Armenia Fund USA works to accomplish in Armenia and Karabakh. This project represents one of many carried out by the Armenia Fund USA whose mission continues to stand strong by aiding in the large-scale infrastructure development projects and providing sustainability by going beyond bricks and mortar.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor toward strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh and has helped build 138 miles of roads, 81 miles of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential buildings and 14 healthcare institutions. After completing the Goris-Stepanakert Highway, linking Armenia to Karabakh, Armenia Fund USA completed support for the North-South Highway, a 105-mile road serving as the backbone of Karabakh.

“Every year, I contribute to the Armenia Fund USA telethon and follow what they were doing. I believe in them, because I know that they are very legitimate,” said Kassabian.

Construction began a few months ago on this project, and the project will be completed in May. Already, the crew repaired a large reservoir, or well, to collect drinking water, repaired a pipeline to transport water to the homes, constructed a fence around the reservoir and restored a guard station.

As Nor Edessia residents now have water to bathe and wash dishes, and with water no longer an issue, residents now can focus on other life pursuits and become more prosperous. During a recent trip to Nor Edessia, “We saw the children, beautiful children,” Kassabian said tearfully. “I was very happy I was going to help them. It means everything. I wish I could do more,” said this generous man who also learned about a school there that requires complete renovation. “We discussed how we could help, as a next project. The children will have their own school,” he said with conviction.

Kassabian acknowledges that he gets emotional when he speaks about Armenia and its children, and was lucky to grow up right after the massacres and deportations. He attended Armenian schools, a French college, an American university and a French law school prior to joining his father’s businesses of importing textiles and military surplus and extensive travel throughout his career included living in Germany and Japan and settling in New York in 1980. Mr. Vasken Kassabian has been married for 43 years, has two children and four grandchildren. “I consider myself very lucky,” he said.

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