12th SITTING OF USATF ENVISAGED TO TAKE PLACE IN AUTUMN

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The 12th sitting of the US-Armenia Task
Force (USATF) was held in Yerevan on May 2. The RA Minister of Finance
and Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated during the press conference
following the sitting that the sides mainly addressed the Millennium
Challenge Program, investment encouragement issues, problems that
hinder the development of Armenia’s trade and the microeconomic
situation in the country. The minister noted that problems of
agriculture, especially those related to irrigation systems and the
energy sector were discussed as well. According to US Coordinator
for Europe and Eurasia Tom Adams, the discussions of all issues of
bilateral interest were held at high level. It is envisaged to hold
the the next – 13th sitting of the USATF in September-October. The
Armenian side proposed that it should be held in Armenia again. The
USATF was established in 2000 in order to bring to institutional level
the intergovernmental dialogs on further development of bilateral
economic cooperation and increasing the efficiency of assistance
programs implemented by the US government in Armenia. USATF convenes
two sittings annually – in Washington and Yerevan. Over the past
decade, the US government has implemented various development and
humanitarian programs of over 1.6 bln USD in Armenia.