American Corner Yerevan

The United States Agency for International Development Assistance to Armenia

1:00pm 19.12.2009

On Saturday, December 19, 2009, the Yerevan American Corner hosted a public lecture entitled "USAID Assistance to Armenia." USAID Program Office Director Timothy Alexander delivered the remarks. Using a power point presentation, Mr. Alexander presented a summary of U.S. foreign aid levels from 1960 to 2005. He discussed the goal of USAID assistance, noting that funding is used to stimulate economic growth, strengthen citizen participation in governance, and improve health and social protection services. Mr. Alexander specifically highlighted U.S. assistance to Armenia starting from the December 1988 earthquake until today. Since 1992, the year a U.S. official presence in Armenia began, USAID has been implementing numerous programs in all of Armenia’s regions. Over the years, USAID/Armenia's programs have evolved, however, from humanitarian assistance toward the promotion of long-term economic development, and social and democratic reform. More information about USAID is available at: http://armenia.usaid.gov.

Nearly 30 participants, the majority of which were university students, U.S. Government educational exchange program alumni, and young professionals, attended the lecture. Participants asked several questions about U.S. Government investment in Armenia. The lecture served to highlight the 20th anniversary of the U.S. – Armenia partnership.