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PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Americans for Artsakh Launches Executive Training in Stepanakert with
Support of AGBU

Americans for Artsakh (AFA) recently completed its first of a series of
training courses for government employees in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).
The AGBU-funded course, which was held at the NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, was titled "Business English for NKR Diplomats" and took place
from July 20-30, 2008. Sarah Ludwig, AFA Executive Director and also a
language specialist at the International Center for Language Studies in
Washington, DC, conducted the course.

"I commend the AGBU for appreciating the paramount importance of
education and continued professional training. Artsakh remains excluded
from any such international projects, so, on behalf of my government, I
thank the AGBU for stepping up and sponsoring this pioneer training
course," said Vardan Barseghian, NKR Representative to the United
States, who worked with both organizations on this project.

In completing the course, participating members of the Ministry gained
valuable skills in various aspects of working with foreign counterparts,
including giving presentations, conducting meetings, and social
interaction.

Irina Beglaryan, Head of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation at
the Ministry, commented, "The course will be very useful for our future
dealings with foreigners. It will improve our ability to interact with
the international community on many different levels. We hope that AFA
will offer similar courses in other areas, as well."

AFA plans on conducting training courses for NKR government employees to
include disciplines such as international public law, diplomacy, public
administration, economics, and management. In addition, it also
envisages developing a wide range of educational programs at the school
and university levels in order to provide students with knowledge of
global, rapidly developing subjects to which they would not otherwise
have access.

These types of programs will prove to be a crucial part of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s path towards greater development.

Americans for Artsakh is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
established to preserve freedom, strengthen democracy, foster economic
development, protect the cultural identity and promote the heritage of
the people of Artsakh. The founding Board of Directors includes: Zaven
Khanjian, President; Dr. Hratch Abrahamian, Vice President; Savey
Tufenkian, Treasurer; Rita Balian, Secretary; and Edward Chobanian.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest Armenian
non-profit organization. Headquartered in New York, AGBU preserves and
promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational,
cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000
Armenians in 37 countries.