National Public Radio Features Armenia on Nationwide Broadcast Press Release: September 26, 2006 Contact: Bedros Safarian (1-888-266-7331) (LOS ANGELES) Armenia captured the attention of listeners to National Public Radio (NPR) last week when it featured author Matthew Karanian on a nationwide US broadcast of the syndicated program “Travel With Rick Steves.” The 60-minute broadcast on September 16 featured an interview with Karanian, the co-author of “The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and Karabagh,” and focused on tourism in Armenia, his new book, and on current conditions in Armenia. The broadcast was carried by satellite radio in both the US and Canada, making this the first international radio broadcast to promote Armenia as a tourist destination. Rick Steves took questions from phone callers to the show, and asked Karanian questions about the logistics of travel to Armenia, about Armenia’s ecology, and about Armenian history, including the Genocide. Steves praised “The Stone Garden Guide” as a “beautiful” book that was remarkably comprehensive for such a small country. The book is 304 pages and contains 135 color photographs and 27 color maps. Armenia is about the size of Maryland. If you missed the broadcast, you can still hear it online in its entirety at www.RickSteves.com. “The Stone Garden Guide” is the leading travel guidebook on Armenia and was the best-selling guide to the country in 2004 and 2005. The First Edition of the book was award finalist for best travel guide in 2005 by the Independent Publishers Association. The Second Edition, which was released on September 1, 2006, has been praised as “by CNN Traveller Magazine as “excellent,” and by the Washington Times as “a top guide.” The book is available for $29.95 post paid in the US and Canada from Stone Garden Productions; PO Box 7758; Northridge, CA 91327. California residents must add $2.05 sales tax. For larger orders call toll-free 1-888-266-7331. More details about the book are available online at www.StoneGardenProductions.com