Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 N. Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Visits Armenia Fund Office
New Jersey Congressman Rallies Support for Telethon 2006
LOS ANGELES – On September 23, 2006, U.S. Congressman and Co-Chair of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
visited the offices of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region and met with
leadership and staff of the organization.
Maria Mehranian, Chairperson of Armenia Fund, Sarkis Kotanjian,
Executive Director, and Greg Boyrazian, Director of Development held a
breakfast meeting with the congressman. Among the various topics
discussed during the meeting was the U.S. Millennium Challenge
Corporation’s generous grant of $235.65 million made to the Republic of
Armenia over a course of five years. The grant is designed to combat
rural poverty through the construction of new rural roads and a modern
irrigation network for the purpose of revitalizing Armenia’s rural
economy. The project is aimed at making Armenia the region’s breadbasket
through this critical socio-economic stimulus project. According to the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the compact includes a $67 million
project to rehabilitate up to 943 kilometers of rural roads, more than a
third of Armenia’s proposed Lifeline road network. The program will be
joined by Armenia Fund’s major Rural Poverty Eradication program later
in fiscal year 2007. The ambitious infrastructure development program
was unveiled by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia, H.E. Vartan
Oskanian during the 3rd Armenia-Diaspora Conference in Yerevan.
Mehranian thanked Congressman Pallone for his unyielding support of
issues vital to the development of the Republic of Armenia. She
emphasized that U.S. foreign aid to Armenia, along with the growing
support of the Diaspora through Armenia Fund, are contributing to the
critical development of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Pallone stressed
that the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s grant should not be used as
an excuse for decreasing any type of aid to Armenia under the Foreign
Aid Operation act. He pledged to continue to fight for more foreign aid
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Executive Director Sarkis Kotanjian also thanked the Congressman for his
support, especially to the fledgling Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. It is
noteworthy that Congressman Pallone has been to the republic several
times and highly commended Armenia Fund’s ongoing projects, especially
in Nagorno Karabakh. Kotanjian later added details about the ongoing
regional development program in Martakert. In 2007 Armenia Fund plans on
implementing a parallel regional development program in the southernmost
poverty-stricken Hadrut region as well. The 2006 Telethon will raise
funds for that purpose.
Congressman Pallone warmly welcomed the program and highly commended the
Fund’s activities throughout Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. He pledged to
push for more assistance to Nagorno Karabakh in the context of regional
development. Pallone wished the Armenia Fund a successful Telethon and a
strong future as it embarks on the Rural Poverty Eradication Program.
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