RA NA Speaker Receives WB Regional Director

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES WB REGIONAL DIRECTOR

National Assembly
Feb 19 2010
Armenia

On February 18, the Speaker of RA National Assembly Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan received the World Bank Regional Director for South Caucasus
Mr. Asad Alam and Head of the Armenian Office Mr. Aristomen Varoudakis.

Welcoming the guest the NA Speaker documented with satisfaction the
activation of cooperation between the World Bank and the National
Assembly and expressed his gratitude for the support to the project
of strengthening the capabilities of the National Assembly, which
was provided within the framework of the second program of the state
sector. Mr. Abrahamyan highly assessed the efficiency of the projects
of the World Bank being implemented in Armenia and in that context
highlighted the implementation of the oversight functions reserved to
the parliament by RA Constitution, in particular, with respect to using
in the best way for the economy of the country the monetary-credit
means allocated to Armenia. He underlined the importance directed
at overcoming of the global financial-economic crisis, recovery of
the economy, fighting against corruption, as well as the projects
being implemented in Armenia by the World Bank in the spheres of
education, modernization of the health care system, restoration of
the irrigation systems, social security and other spheres. Expressing
satisfaction for the support of the World Bank in the development of
the country the NA Speaker Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan noted that, naturally,
the National Assembly focused on those spheres and the results of the
studies of the World Bank were always interesting and useful. A wide
field of cooperation with the World Bank is outlined, and the joint
discussions will more concretize the mechanisms of cooperation.

Expressing gratitude to NA Speaker for active and permanent cooperation
with the World Bank, Mr. Alam also highlighted the necessity of
deepening World Bank-RA National Assembly cooperation. He said that the
World Bank had begun the elaboration of the new strategy of assistance
to Armenia and was concerned in cooperation with the parliament and
NA Speaker. Mr. Alam noted with satisfaction that with respect to
the efficiency of the implementation of the investment projects of
the World Bank Armenia was considered one of the best countries. The
World Bank Regional Director highlighted the opening of the border
with Turkey, which would essentially promote the development of the
region and Armenia’s economy.

In the course of the meeting the sides touched upon the steps
undertaken towards the overcoming of the consequences of the global
financial-economic crisis in Armenia.