ARMENIAN PM: IN NEXT 5 YEARS ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT WILL FOCUS ON VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

ARMINFO News Agency
September 18, 2006 Monday

In the next five years the Armenian Government’s priority will be to
develop villages, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said
during the 3rd Armenia-Diaspora Conference while presenting the
Government’s poverty reduction program.

He said that in the last few years Armenia has shown high economic
growth but there is inequality between the capital and the regions.

So, the Government will do its best to reduce poverty in the regions
by 6% a year down from present 41%. Margaryan said that 1 mln people
live in the regions or 35% of the total population. Special attention
should be given to borderline regions. First of all, it is necessary
to prevent migration from the region.

Margaryan said that the $235.65 mln Millennium Challenge Program will
greatly contribute to the development of Armenia’s regions as a big
part of the money will be spent on repairing roads and irrigation
systems in rural areas and on crediting and advising farmers.

Margaryan urged the Diaspora to take an active part in the program.