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YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS:The Armenia Fund said its Executive Director Vahe Aghabegians will be on a week long working trip to the USA starting January 24. During the visit, Mr. Aghabegians will conduct a series of meetings with the members of the Armenian community in the Bay Area, in northern California. The central topic on the agenda is the discussion of a number of initiatives to be implemented as part of the Rural Development Program. Mr. Aghabegians will be accompanied by Maria Mehranian, the chairman of the USA Armenia Fund Western Region. While in San Francisco, Mr. Aghabegians will also meet representatives of the local Armenian community. The community has committed to support the establishment of a milk collection unit in Azatamut community of Tavush region. When realized, this initiative will help substantially increase the volume of milk production in the region. Perhaps most importantly, it will provide the community members of all the neighboring villages with a stable and dependable source of income. The latter component effectively underlines the key task of the Rural Development Program. Launched in 2007, the Program aims at comprehensive and sustainable development in the border villages of Armenia and Karabakh. At the end of the day this means helping people in these communities help themselves. At their core, all the massive infrastructural amendment and economic development facilitation initiatives to be carried out within the Program are ultimately aimed at creating a favorable environment for people to want to stay in their villages and build a better future with their own hands. Mr. Aghabegians will also have meetings in Los Angeles with the fund’s US east and west coast affiliates and discuss organizational issues and future plans.