PRESS RELEASE
Tufenkian Foundation, Inc.
20 Capitol Drive
Moonachie, NJ 07074
Contact: Antranig Kasbarian
Tel: 201-221-1055, ext.327
Fax: 201-221-1070
Email: akasbarian@tufenkiancarpets.com
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KASHATAGH CONFERENCE ISSUES ANNOUNCEMENT

On March 28-30, 2008, more than 70 representatives of various
organizations came together for a pan-Armenian conference devoted to
the NKR Kashatagh region. Organized by the Tufenkian Foundation under
the auspices of the NKR government, the conference issued an
announcement following its proceedings. The announcement appears
below.

KASHATAGH DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Summary Conclusions

On March 28-30, 2008, the first pan-Armenian conference devoted to
developing the NKR Kashatagh region was held in Berdzor. Organized by
the Tufenkian Foundation and held under the auspices of the NKR
government, the conference reached the following conclusions during
its final session:

Based on the national security interests of the Armenian and Nagorno
Karabagh republics;

with the goal of turning all Armenians’ attention toward strengthening
and developing the liberated region of Kashatagh;

well-aware of Kashatagh’s immeasurable strategic significance, as the
bridge that ties Artsakh with the Republic of Armenia;

recognizing Kashatagh as a vital and inseparable territory of
Karabagh;

acknowledging our duty before the memory and priceless heritage of
those who died for the liberation of Kashatagh;

bowing before the determination and individual sacrifices endured by
the people of this region;

keeping in sight Kashatagh’s special situation, which is in a crucial
condition from economic and development standpoints;

acknowledging the laxness of Kashatagh’s development in recent times;

with determination to economically bolster those accomplishments made
on the battlefield;

The conference’s participating organizations conclude –

The 3-day conference in Berdzor is not a theoretical initiative, but
rather the beginning of an ongoing and uninterruptable process, the
starting point for developing a comprehensive development plan for
Kashatagh;

The practical decisions reached during the conference’s working
sessions provide for the realization of important projects in the near
future; these projects will address the region’s infrastructural
needs, especially in the realms of road-building, school-building,
education, spiritual-cultural development, health-care, and others.

With support from the NKR government and the Tufenkian Foundation’s
Stepanakert office, these coordinated activities will continue
according to plans already laid out, with the goal of generating a
call-to-action among all Armenians toward the strengthening of
Kashatagh.

AGAPE, USA
Ararat Heritage Trust, UK
Armenian Educational Foundation, USA
Armenian Health Alliance, Inc. – Carolann S. Najarian, M.D., USA
Armenian Missionary Association of America, USA
Armenian Relief Society
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Technology Group, USA
Armenian Tree Project, USA
Artsakh Fund of Lebanon, Lebanon
Canadian Armenian Network, Canada
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, Abp. Sebouh Sarkissian
Free Fatherland Party, NKR
Friends of Armenia, USA
Gurgen Melikian Foundation, Armenia
Hamazkain Armenian Educational and Cultural Association
Hand in Hand, NGO, Canada
Heritage Party, Armenia
Iranian-Armenian Community, Iran
Izmirlian Foundation, Switzerland
Knights of Vartan, USA
Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, Artsakh Diocese
National Democratic Union Party, Armenia
National Unity Party, Armenia
Prosperous Armenia Party, Armenia
Provence-Armenie, France
Syrian-Armenian Community, Syria
Tsarukian Foundation, Armenia
Tufenkian Foundation, USA

30 March, 2008
Berdzor, NKR