‘OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO GIVE THE VILLAGERS A CHANCE TO GET RICH’
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
26/10/2006
The United Nations Development Program and "Hayastan" Pan-Armenian
Fund have decided to unite their efforts and abilities in reducing
rural poverty in Armenia.
Yesterday, the sides signed a memorandum of mutual understanding.
Director of "Hayastan" Pan-Armenian Fund, Naira Melkumian, and
UN permanent coordinator in Armenia, Consuelo Vidal, emphasized
the importance of cooperation of rural communities and local
authorities in productive implementation of the program. The rural
communities will be selected based on the level of poverty and the
level of unemployment. Border villages will also be included in the
program. Consuelo Vidal said that a group at the Armenian Foreign
Ministry engaged in this issue and the UN already have a common
elaborated program. The UN permanent coordinator underscored that
while studying the problems of rural communities, people themselves
indicate their needs and priorities that include social issues as well.
"I am sure that the result of this cooperation will be decisive in
terms of reducing poverty. Our ultimate aim is to give the villagers
a chance to get rich," Naira Melkumian said.