WB APPROVES $6.25M CREDIT FOR ARMENIA UNDER GPAI

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 5 2006

YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. The World bank Armenia Country Manager
Roger Robinson said the Board of Executive Directors of the World
Bank approved $6.25 credit for Armenia under the Global Program for
Avian Influenza.

He said the program implementation will be contributed by grant
amounting to $804 thsd, provided by the Government of Japan. The
program on the whole is meant for an emergency situation in Armenia
connected with threat of avian influenza spread.

“The program contains three main components: healthcare, veterinarian
measures, informing people, as well as compensation to those small
and medium farmers of the country who can lose birds in case of threat
of the avian influenza”, Robinson emphasized.

He informed that discussion over this program lasted since the end
of 2005; the project elaboration was quick, taking into account the
situation in the region. He expressed belief that soon the program
will be approved in the RA National Assembly as well.

The terms of the credit are standard – 40-years time to run and
10-year grace period.

Since 1992 the World Bank has given Armenia credits in the amount of
$927.25 for implementation of 43 programs.