For Immediate Release ~ March 9, 2007
Contact: 818-243-6222
Paris, France - A special joint meeting took place in Paris, France between Armenia Fund affiliates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, on February 16, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, H.E. Vartan Oskanian and the Executive Director of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Ms. Naira Melkoumian and was organized by Armenia Fund's French affiliate - Fonds Armenien de France.
| L to R: Armenia Fund France Chairman Pierre Terzian, Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian, Executive Director Naira Melkoumian, and Chairperson of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region Maria Mehranian |
The meeting discussed the scope of the Village Development Program which identifies a total of 125 villages along the borders of Armenia in clusters of five to ten villages. A number of international sources and private donors are identified that will provide funding mechanisms for economic and infrastructure development with the aim of revitalizing each cluster. The participants decided to conduct a needs analysis for the first cluster which will work as a pilot project. A number of other clusters will be identified in the coming months and will be discussed in detail during Armenia Fund's Annual International Board of Trustees meeting in May. The clusters will be included in Armenia Fund's global fundraising activities in fiscal year 2007.
Armenia Fund's international 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 the Fund's ongoing projects and emphasized that the organization continues to enjoy the undivided support of the Diaspora.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $160 million in development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698
