P R E S S R E L E A S E
Congress of Canadian Armenians
Taro Alepian, Chairman
Tel: 514-336-4387
Fax: 514-336-1969
e-mail: alepian.t@sympatico.ca

CAN ADIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO AID VILLAGES IN ARMENIA

Montreal, February 19, 2007 – The Congress of Canadian Armenians today
announced that, working jointly with the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Canada, it will be actively supporting the Hayastan
Foundation Canada to achieve the commitment it has made to collect
funds for the reconstruction and economic development of two border
villages in Armenia. The goal over the next five years is to provide
from Canadian donors all of the required funds for these two
villages. In accordance with the wishes of the Government of Armenia,
these funds will be channeled through Hayastan Foundation Canada in
accordance with its mission.

These two villages are part of fifty that have already been designated
by the Government of Armenia to be part of their newly announced Rural
Poverty Eradication Program. As the program gets underway this year,
fifty more villages will be designated.

At the invitation of Vartan Oskanyan, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs, an important meeting of donors for the Rural Poverty
Eradication Program was held in Paris on February 16, 2007. Arshavir
Gundjian attended as the representative of the Canadian Diocese and
the Congress of Canadian Armenians. At this meeting, the wishes of the
Government of Armenia and all aspects of the implementation of the
program were reviewed in detail and agreed upon.

"We are pleased with the commitment made on behalf of the Armenian
community in Canada, and we thank the Canadian Diocese and the
Congress of Canadian Armenians for their active support", said Vartan
Oskanyan. "Working together, we will give our rural people hope,
dignity and confidence in their future. Let’s build Armenia – one
village at a time."

Significant development disparities exist today between Armenia’s
cities and rural areas. Its three largest cities, led by Yerevan, have
experienced impressive economic growth during the past few
years. However, its rural communities continue to
suffer. Infrastructure remains devastated, economic and social
activity is at very low levels, and there is widespread poverty. This
has resulted in migration from these villages, many of which are on
the country’s Eastern and Western borders threatening their stability.

The Government of Armenia has therefore recently initiated an
important poverty reduction strategy, the main thrust of which is the
Rural Poverty Eradication Program. It has called on the Diaspora for
financial assistance, which together with funds from the national
budget will be used to improve the infrastructure of rural villages,
and to provide fair opportunities for the inhabitants to properly
develop their future. Roads, schools, water, telephone and health care
services will be the priorities of the program, together with training
and development of skills for increased employment.

The member organizations of the Congress of Canadian Armenians include
(in alphabetical order): AGBU Alex Manoogian School, AGBU Montreal
Chapter, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Holy Cross Church of
Laval, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Montreal, S.D. Hunchakian
Party, Society of Armenians from Istanbul, Tekeyan Cultural
Association.

For more information, please contact:

Taro Alepian
Chairman, Congress of Canadian Armenians
Tel: 514-336-4387
Fax: 514-336-1969
e-mail: alepian.t@sympatico.ca