An international conference devoted to the development of the Kashatagh region of the NKR took place from March 28 - 30 in the town of Berdzor, Kashatagh’s regional center. The Tufenkian Foundation organized the conference. Mr. Antranig Kasparian, the Foundation’s Director in Armenia, asked that “Hetq” publish the following summary of the conference’s results.

Overall, the conference proved to be a successful start and foundation for further operations. I think we were able to reach two important objectives. The first was the positive reaction   the conference garnered, both by the media and the participants themselves. Present at the conference were those essential organizations from the Diaspora and Armenia that could focus some attention surrounding the situation in Kashatagh. The second, more practical objective, involves investment, both charitable and business related. We achieved this aim as well on a pretty decent level. We received an initial commitment from the Tsarukyan Fund (Founded by entrepreneur Gagik Tsarukyan, who heads the Prosperous Armenia Party and a National Assembly Deputy). The Fund has promised to cover the expenses of a major infrastructure project - either road construction or the rebuilding of the potable or irrigation water systems. Negotiations are underway to settle on a final project for the Fund. I am very optimistic regarding the outcome of the talks.

The working committees set up on the second day of the conference achieved tangible results. They were able to put the final touches on a variety of projects and to propose a number of new ones.

There are two main business related programs in the works. One of the working committees was able to solicit $300,000 in pledges to build a wine factory in the village of Ishkhanadzor and to transform the site into a reprocessing center for a variety of locally produced nectars. Ishkhanadzor is centrally located in the south of Kashatagh. There were winemakers in this working committee as well. One of them, Vahe Koshkeryan, is a recognized expert vintner who exports wine to the European market. He’ll be making a number of investments in the Ishkhanadzor programs that will result in new job openings in these factories and assist in the development of winemaking in particular and agriculture in general. People will be able to sell their produce to a factory or drop-off site in their vicinity.

The second business project, the planting of pomegranate and grape fields, is valued at around $200,000. We also plan to implement this project in the south, in the area straddling the settlements of Kovsakan and Mijnavan. The Tufenkian Foundation has proposed that this project be carried out along the lines of a similar project already completed. (See article: The Tufenkian Foundation in Artsakh). For the past 3-4 years the villagers working at this project site have been receiving monthly wages until the fields produce a crop. Starting in years 4-5 they will be made shareholders and will receive a certain amount of the harvest in addition to their wages. In this way they will be see themselves as an integral part of the program. The final objective isn’t only to create a profitable business but to keep the people directly attached to their lands. In other words, it’s a business project with a charitable foundation.

There are other charitable projects as well, for which we’ve already solicited pledges. The Knights of Vartan organization has promised to erect two schools. The Provence Armenie group has pledged to construct a sports complex in Kovsakan. One individual has promised to build a park in Berdzor and the Armenia Tree Project will cover the cost of tree planting there. Many other donations have been pledged as well that are in the review stage. These donations will soon be earmarked for a variety of uses and the names of the donor organizations and a list of the projects involved will be made public.

It has been a good start but the work must progress at a rapid rate. With this in mind we proposed the creation of a council that would coordinate operations and liaise with the regional administration here. Conference attendees rejected the idea arguing that such a move was premature at this stage. They requested that the Tufenkian Foundation assume such a role. This shouldn’t present any problem given that the organization executing the program can also immediately coordinate with the Kashatagh administration. These are issues that will be discussed and clarified in the coming months. We sincerely hope that this imitative will soon see tangible results.