FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: edina@farusa.org
Website:
February 16, 2005
____________________
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA AND USAID ARMENIA MISSION DIRECTOR SHARE
INSIGHT AT TOWN HALL MEETING HOSTED BY FAR AND THE DIOCESE
Despite difficulties — ranging from the heritage of Soviet misrule to
cultural and economic factors – America’s new Ambassador to Armenia,
John Evans, feels strongly that “Armenia today is on the right track.”
To help stay on track, Armenia receives assistance from America — in
fact, Armenia receives more American assistance per capita than any
other nation, save Israel. That statistic only takes into account
governmental aid, and does not include help provided by private
organizations, such as the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).
During a town hall meeting on Friday, February 11, 2005, co-hosted by
FAR and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
Ambassador Evans described the three areas that the U.S. administration
focuses its aid to Armenia: (1) to see stability and security for the
people in the south Caucasus; (2) to work with other international
donors to build up the economy in Armenia, hopefully to a point where it
is self-sustaining; and (3) to foster the development of genuine
democratic institutions, touching the executive, legislative and
judicial branches of government as well as the media, often considered
the fourth branch of democracy.
The U.S. assistance program includes projects by the U.S. Agency for
International Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Peace
Corps, the Treasury Department, the Pentagon and several others. “I
think it is probably the best,” the Ambassador said, referring to the
high quality of work and the existence of checks and balances in
Armenia.
About 40 people attended the intimate gathering at New York City’s
Diocesan Center, which included remarks by Ambassador Evans, and USAID
Country Director for Armenia Robin Phillips.
FAR AND U.S. WORK JOINTLY
USAID’s Phillips indicated that of the $75 million Congress allocates to
Armenia’s assistance, USAID implements $50 million. He noted that FAR
is overseeing $16.55 million for humanitarian assistance granted by
USAID — $15 million for work in Karabagh and $1.55 million for work in
Armenia. This double award demonstrates USAID’s recognition of FAR as a
credible, responsible and effective relief organization.
“We are happy with our long-standing relationship with USAID,” said
Garnik Nanagoulian, Executive Director of FAR, “and look forward to
continuing our partnership for the benefit of the people of Armenia and
Karabagh.”
The four sectors that categorize USAID’s 60 activities in Armenia are
Regional Stability, Economic Development, Democracy, and Social
Transition. To exhibit USAID’s top-down and bottom-up approaches,
Director Phillips described various USAID programs in Armenia.
Additional information about USAID projects was shown through a short
film, Partners for the Future, copies of which were made available to
the public.
WELCOMING AND QUESTIONING THE NEW AMBASSADOR
The gathering was a chance for the Armenian community in New York to get
to know Ambassador Evans, who was confirmed by the Senate on June 25,
2004 and sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia on August 11, 2004.
Earlier, on October 1, 2004, FAR and Diocesan leaders met with the Mr.
Evans in New York City to reaffirm their partnerships with the State
Department and USAID.
A native of Williamsburg, VA, Ambassador Evans has served at American
embassies in Iran, the former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Russia.
Most recently he served as the Director of the Office of Russian Affairs
at the U.S. State Department.
Ambassador Evans was heavily involved in the coordination of U.S. relief
efforts to the victims of the Spitak earthquake in December 1988, for
which he earned a medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian
government of that time.
During the town hall meeting, Ambassador Evans welcomed questions from
those in attendance, who asked several tough questions — touching on
areas such as the U.S. role in fair elections, the efforts to open
Armenia’s two closed borders, the ramifications of Azerbaijan’s use of
Chechen terrorists against Armenians, the effects of Armenia-Iran
relationship given recent U.S. policies, the environmental concerns
surrounding Armenia’s nuclear energy, and the example of the U.S.
Consular representative indicted on bribery charges.
FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 16 years, FAR has
implemented various relief, development, social, educational, and
cultural projects valued at more than $250 million. It is the
preeminent relief and development organization operating there.
For more information on FAR, contact us at 630 Second Avenue, New York,
NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; web
; e-mail far@farusa.org.
— 2/16/05
E-mail photos available upon request.
PHOTO CAPTION 1: FAR and the Diocese co-hosted a town hall meeting in
New York on February 11, 2005: left to right: Aaron H. Sherinian,
Political Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, Garnik A. Nanagoulian,
FAR Executive Director, Randy Sapah-Gulian, Secretary of the FAR Board
of Directors, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Rev. Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, Dean of the St. Vartan Cathedral, Annette Choolfaian, Treasurer
of the FAR Board of Directors, USAID Armenia Director Robin Phillips,
and Dr. Edgar Housepian, Vice Chairman of the FAR Board of Directors.
PHOTO CAPTION 2: FAR Executive Director Garnik Nanagoulian welcomed the
40 guests attending the reception and introduced the U.S. Ambassador and
USAID Armenia Director.
PHOTO CAPTION 3: Ambassador John M. Evans spoke openly about U.S.
policies and priorities in Armenia.
PHOTO 4: After making presentations and showing a film about USAID
activities in Armenia, U.S. Ambassador John Evans and USAID Armenia
Director Robin Phillips answered questions from community members.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress