UNDP AND IZMIRLIAN FOUNDATION SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT TO BOOST RURAL COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENTS

AZG Armenian Daily
08/02/2007

Today, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Armenia and
the Izmirlian Foundation announced a new phase in their partnership
directed toward economic and cultural development of rural communities
in Armenia. UNDP and Izmirlian foundation are already working together
in the town of Meghri in Southern part of Armenia, and with this
agreement the parties will continue and expand their work. As part
of it, the local Crafts Center will be renovated and revitalized,
to generate employment opportunities in this region. Also, the local
church’s old and beautiful frescoes will be protected by renovating
its roof, as they are being depleted because of rain and snow. And the
major component of the project will be the organization of the garbage
system of the town by providing the needed machinery and equipment.

This project is a continuation of an earlier initiative of UNDP
and Izmirlian Foundation – the establishment of Bed-and-breakfast
Guesthouse in Meghri city. Then, a XIX century cottage house has
been reconstructed into a small hotel facility fostering the region’s
potential for ethno-tourism development. In this way, a small tourist
route will be enabled. Other projects are being discussed by the
two institutions, to continue supporting towns and rural villages
of Armenia, particularly supporting projects that enhance local
development and job creation opportunities. Syunik marz is located in
the South of Armenia. The city of Meghri is one of the southernmost
parts of Armenia. It is situated on the lower part of the Fortress
of Meghri, in a large slope. Due to its location in the beautiful
highlands of the Armenian south and the availability of various
historical-cultural monuments, the city of Meghri has the potential
of becoming a center of tourism if the corresponding infrastructures
are developed.

In the long run, development of tourism will contribute to sustainable
economic development and improvement of the welfare of the community
residents through creation of employment in the sphere of tourist
services.

The Lesser District of Meghri presents an open-air museum of folk
architecture, and this district is especially valuable because a
section of the settlement has been preserved up to now. The church
to be renovated is also located in this district.

By renovating and revitalizing the Crafts Center, UNDP And Izmirlian
Foundation aim to contribute to the reduction of unemployment in
this remote community, especially among young people. The Crafts
Center will become a training facility that will prepare a variety
of crafts people, and this will also conduce to the development of
Meghri as a tourism center.

The overall project budget for this phase is $155,000.

The beneficiaries of the project are the population of Meghri
(12,200 people).