|
U.S. Agencies
Providing Assistance to Armenia
|
The United States Mission in Armenia includes seven agencies of
the United States Government that have permanent representatives in
Yerevan. In addition to these seven agencies, representatives from
other USG agencies make frequent temporary visits to Armenia to assist
the Mission.
Each agency works in partnership with the Armenia government, non-government
and private sector entities and coordinates with other international
and Diaspora donors to ensure complementarity and to maximize the
impact of U.S. assistance programs. |
-
U.S.
Department of State
-
U.S.
Agency for International Development
-
U.S.
Department of Agriculture
-
U.S.
Department of Defence
-
Peace
Corps
-
U.S.
Department of the Treasury
-
U.S.
Department of Commerce
-
Other
USG Agencies
|
|
U.S.
Department of State In Washington,
the Department of State, Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance
to the Newly Independent States (NIS) coordinates all assistance
efforts in the NIS on behalf of the U.S. Government. The Humanitarian
Programs Division of the Office of the Coordinator has been especially
active in Armenia. Since 1992, the Division delivered over $ 200
million worth of humanitarian assistance to Armenia, including winter
fuel shipments of mazut, kerosene, and diesel; spring and winter
planting seeds; special humanitarian programs through private voluntary
organizations; 77 humanitarian assistance airlifts; and Department
of Defense excess property and privately donated material (food,
clothing, shelter, medicines and medical supplies and equipment).
The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
formerly the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) has maintained a Public
Diplomacy office in Yerevan since the establishment of the American
Embassy in 1992. The Public Diplomacy Office, formerly U.S. Information
Service (USIS) has been at the forefront of education, exchanges,
and training programs for Armenians in the United States. The current
Public Diplomacy program for 2001 sponsored 50 scholarship master
degree candidates in the United States, 22 scholars for one year
of undergraduates study, and 45 young Bradley scholars who will
spend one year at an American high school. Public Diplomacy also
administers the U.S. Mission's Democracy and Good Governance small
grants programs with the Ministry of Education, and develops projects
to assist media development. In 1999, the Public Diplomacy section
launched a very successful Internet connectivity program in Armenia
that has provided equipment and Internet connectivity for twenty-six
(26) Armenian high school laboratories. An addition forty (40) high
schools benefited from this program in 2001.
The Department of State's bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement (INL) coordinates USG law enforcement assistance
programs in Armenia, including training for Office of the Prosecutor
General and Ministry of Internal Affairs.
|
|
U.S.
Agency for International Development
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) opened it's
office in Yerevan in 1992. Since that time it has been the key U.S.
agency involved in the provision of assistance to Armenia. Initially
oriented toward providing humanitarian assistance, the USAID program
for Armenia has evolved over the last five years to a program focusing
on development assistance and private sector development. Specifically,
USAID is now focusing their assistance efforts on the following
critical areas: private sector growth, energy security, democratic
reform, social sector transition, earthquake zone recovery, and
water resource management. USAID assistance to Armenia since 1992
through the Freedom Support Act funding has totaled approximately
$600 million
|
|
U.S.
Department of Agriculture The
Department of Agriculture (USDA) has played an important role in
the U.S. assistance program in Armenia since 1992. The USDA has
made large-scale contributions in the areas of food assistance,
both in government-to-government and PVO food assistance programs,
in agriculture extension programs, agriculture exchanges, SME agribusiness
development, and marketing assistance. USDA has contributed approximately
$ 400 million in total assistance to Armenia since 1992, mostly
through the provision of wheat and other food commodities as well
as for the establishment of Armenia's agriculture extension service
throughout the nation. In 1996, the USDA office in Yerevan initiated
the Marketing Assistance Project (MAP). This project, now in its
sixth year, has been extremely successful in assisting private sector
growth in agriculture and agribusiness, resulting in job creation
and increased income in the villages.
|
|
U.S.
Department of Defence The
Department of Defense (DOD) established a Defense Attache office
(DAO) in Yerevan in May 1995. Prior to May 1995, military representatives
of DOD were temporarily assigned to assist in the operations of
the U.S. Mission. Since 1992, a significant amount of humanitarian
assistance has been provided to Armenia through the DOD Excess Material
Program, including $ 15 million of hospital equipment and supplies
in August 1996. The DOD has coordinated with the U.S.-Germany-sponsored
George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies in Garmisch, Germany,
to send 51 Armenian defense specialists to the Center. Attendance
at the Marshall Center is a valued educational experience and continues
to be strongly supported by the Government of Armenia. The DAO has
also been active in assisting Armenia in its increasing participation
in NATO's Partnership for Peace Program.
|
|
