NEW YORK, NY - On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2000, the already traditional Marathon-Telethon of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund, was generated from Los Angeles and, via television, satellite links and Internet, connected the Diaspora, Armenia, and Karabagh for a worldwide fund raising. In one day only, approximately $2.5 million dollars was raised. The proceeds will go to the construction of Phase One of a 120-km. Highway that will extend from the southern end to the northern end of Karabagh Republic.

"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund has previously raised enough money and inspired goodwill to finance and supervise the construction of the Goris-Stepanakert highway, which was appropriately named the umbilical cord, linking Armenia to Karabagh.

This is one year that the Fund has started to construct Phase One of the North-South highway which is rightfully named the "backbone" of Karabagh. The completion of this Herculean project will enhance the economic, cultural and strategic development of the young republic.

To stress the importance of this project and to motivate public interest within the span of one month, the executives of the Fund and the government of Karabagh sent two delegations to America. The first high-ranking delegation visited the Greater New York area on Oct 24 and 25. The delegation was headed by the speaker of Karabagh Parliament Oleg Yesayan, accompanied by Felix Piroumian, Governor of the earthquake-stricken Shirak Province, Hrant Matevossian, president of the Writers Union of Armenia, and Vahan Ter-Ghevondian, executive director of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund.

Approximately one month later, on Nov. 20, another high-level delegation visited the area and, later, on Thanksgiving Day, participated in the Telethon from Los Angeles, promoting the fund raising with speeches and calls. This delegation was headed by Anoushavan Danielian, prime minister of the Republic of Mountainous Karabagh, and accompanied by Archbishop Barkev Martirossian, Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, legendary and heroic General Seyran Ohanian, Defense Minister of Karabagh Republic, Honorable Janna Galstyan, Counselor to the president of Nagorno-Karabagh Republic and Vahan Ter-Ghevondian, Executive Director of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund.

On the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 20, the delegation gave a press conference on the premises of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia at the U.N., attended by Vartan Parseghian, representative of the Karabagh Republic, and the representatives of Armenian media. Armand Hagopian, counselor of the Mission, presented the members of the delegation, followed by Prime Minister. Anoushavan Danielian, who invited Ter-Ghevondian to brief about the Marathon.

The executive director of the fund gave details about the construction of the highway and emphasized that this year the marathon is being carried on worldwide, with the participation of the Armenian National Television via satellite connections. Internet worldwide connection was also offered through WWW.Armenianradio.com. He further explained that a three-day Phonetone campaign has already been carried out successfully in France. He informed that 120 volunteers have contacted via telephone 5000 families, 3000 of which have responded positively, and that 1,350,000 French Francs, the equivalent of approximately $250.000 has been raised. Ter-Ghevondian further explained that, in France, the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund office has in its files a list of 35,000 Armenian-owned telephone numbers that will be part of Phonetone next year. Answering a question, Ter-Ghevondian said that in the future, Phonetone can also be used in the Greater New York area.

Ter-Ghevondian further reported that people in Armenia and Karabagh participated with enthusiasm to the Telethon. He said that in earthquake-stricken Gumri, 10,000 people gathered in the city center square and made donations to the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund. This year, he said, the fund has allocated $1,700,000 for the reconstruction of four schools in the Gumri area. According to the Fund executive, this year, the number of participants in the Telethon was expected to be much greater than last year. Answering a question, Ter-Ghevondian confirmed that the U.S. State Department, The World Bank and other international agencies are interested and have positive attitudes towards the construction of the highway and are awaiting a peaceful settlement to bring their participation in the funding of the project. The Prime Minister, Anoushavan Danielian, answering questions, disclosed that his government has in its projects the settlement of Armenian refugees, mainly from Azerbaijan, in Karabagh. He further reported that already 22 villages have been repopulated with electricity and water services installed in those areas. According to Danielian, with the construction of the backbone highway, which will trigger an economic and cultural revival, the population of the population will increase to 300,000. At this time, he estimated the Karabagh population to be 139,000.

General Seyran Ohanian, the defense minister of the Karabagh Republic, Replied to questions pertaining to the military and strategic impact of the highway for the defense of the country. He stressed that, with the improvement of travel and communications, the Karabagh defense will further improve. As a simple example, he explained that, during the war, if we had had better roads to transport the wounded, our losses could have been much less. He confirmed that Karabagh army's war readiness is the main factor of preventing a new war. And he stressed that his army is ready for any surprise attack. The spiritual leader of Karabagh, Archbishop Barkev Martirossian reported about the reconstruction of 19 churches and monasteries in Karabagh and stressed about the spiritual awakening of the population.

The press conference, which lasted two hours, ended as a town house meeting where many subjects were tackled, including the crisis of jobs and the emigration from Armenia. Mr. Danielian assured that the worst part of the economic crisis is over and that, soon, Armenia and Karabagh will become prosperous places to live.