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PRESS RELEASE
"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Anush Babayan
Tel: 3741 52 09 40
Fax: 3741 52 37 95
E-mail: pr@himnadram.org
Web:
19.02.07

Village Development Program as a New Tool to Unite Diaspora

Paris, France – On Friday, February 16, 2007, a special meeting was
held among the Republic of Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Minister H.E.
Vartan Oskanian, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Executive Director Mrs.
Naira Melkoumian, representatives of the Fund’s affiliated structures
abroad and donors to discuss the Village Development Program. The
project envisions the development of more than 150 villages in Armenia
and Artsakh. The meeting was organized by Armenia Fund’s French
affiliate – Fonds Armenien de France, chaired by Mr. Bedros Terzian, a
member of Armenia Fund’s international Board of Trustees.

The project was officially unveiled by Minister Oskanian during the
Armenia – Diaspora Conference held in September 2006 in Yerevan. The
project will be officially presented at Armenia Fund’s international
Board of Trustees meeting on May 7, 2007. Foreign Affairs Minister
Oskanian highlighted during the meeting that international momentum for
aid to Armenia has increased and it is the prime moment for the Diaspora
to once again unite around Armenia Fund and help realize the ambitious
Village Development Program. Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Executive
Director, Mrs. Naira Melkoumian stressed that since the Fund’s
establishment 15 years ago, the organization has implemented large scale
infrastructure development projects and humanitarian aid in Armenia and
Artsakh. She also briefed the attendees on Hayastan All-Armenian ongoing
projects and emphasized the importance that the organization continues
to enjoy the undivided support of the Diaspora. Mr. Terzian stated that
plans are underway to better adapt Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s
existing implementation practices with the new project. It is noteworthy
that this project will complement the Armenian government’s ongoing
development initiatives in different regions as well as other
development projects earmarked under the United Nations Development
Program and the Millennium Challenge Compact.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mrs. Melkoumian added that Armenia
Fund will continue its projects in Artsakh. Currently large scale
regional development projects are underway in Martakert and Hadrout.

Foreign Affairs Minister Oskanian thanked the attendees for once again
joining Armenia’s efforts in building a better Homeland. Attendees
agreed, at the recommendation of Minister Oskanian, that the next
meeting will be held in the summer in Armenia.