THE USA PROMOTES THE RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 14 2005

On October 13, RA NA President and Robin Phillips, Mission Director
in Armenia of the US Agency for International Development (US/AID)
signed a mutual understanding memorandum between the RA National
Assembly and the US Agency for International Development in Armenia.

The NA President Artur Bahgdasaryan noted that the signing of
the mutual understanding memorandum is an important event, and the
memorandum in act will promote the increase of the role of the National
Assembly, activation of the people-parliament ties. It was highlighted
that the NA has already become more public, and representatives of
different social groups visit the parliament. It was also noted that
the program is worth of 2mln USD, it will serve for retraining the NA
specialists, technical upgrading and international exchanges. Artur
Baghdasaryan gave thanks to the US authorities for the regular
assistance to Armenia.

By the estimation of Robin Phillips, Mission Director in Armenia of the
US Agency for International Development, the National Assembly plays
a vital role in democratic management, adopting laws and monitoring
their implementation. In that sense it is especially important to
promote the technical upgrading of the parliament, retraining of the
staff, making closer the ties with the people. Mr.

Phillips estimated the signed new memorandum as a cooperation
cornerstone of National Assembly-US Agency for International
Development.

After signing the memorandum RA NA President Artur Bahgdasaryan and
Robin Phillips, Mission Director in Armenia of the US Agency for
International Development had a briefing with the journalists.