ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN MEGHRI UNDER JOINT PROGRAM OF UNDP AND IZMIRLIAN FOUNDATION
Noyan Tapan
Feb 06 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 5 the UNDP and the
Izmirlian Foundation signed an agreement, according to which an
economic, social and cultural development program will be implemented
in the city of Meghri. The total cost of the program makes 155 thousand
US dollars. Under the program, the roof of the church in Pokr Tagh
(Small District) of Meghri will be repaired and the local Center of
Crafts will be again delivered for operation. Besides, the program
envisages organizing the process of carbage collection in Meghri, for
which the necessary equipment, cars, dustbins, etc. will be purchased.
"By this program we are continuing our strategical partnership with
Diasporan Armenian organizations with the aim of economic and cultutal
development of remote Armenian marzes," Head of the UN Armenia Office
Consuelo Vidal said in her speech. In her words, one of the program’s
goals is to create favorable conditions for development of ethnograthic
tourism in Meghri and improvement of the socioeconomic conditions
of certain groups of its population. She expressed a hope that the
re-opening of the Center of Crafts will help reduce unemployment
among the local young people. Jaques Sargsian, Chief Deputy Chairman
of the Izmirlian Foundation (its head office is in Geneva), stated
that the program will contribute to poverty reduction in the city. It
was indicated that under the first joint program of the Izmirlian
Foundation and the UNDP, one of the old houses of historical and
cultural importance in Mezhlumian Street of Meghri’s Pokr Tagh was
reconstructed, and now travellers can get food and accomodation there.