ARMENIA INTERESTED IN WIDER COOPERATION WITH SWITZERLAND

ARKA
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, November 9. /ARKA/. Armenia is interested in wider cooperation
with Switzerland, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said on Thursday
as met Christine Egerszegi-Obrist, the president of the Swiss National
Council for the year 2006/2007, presidential press office reports.

After greeting the Swiss delegation, the Armenian president expressed
appreciation of Swiss programs of technical assistance for Armenia.

Pointing out that Switzerland reached success by investing a great
deal in human resources. He said that Armenia is now doing the same.

Kocharyan also thanked Swiss National Council for passing Armenian
Genocide resolution in 2003.

Christine Egerszegi-Obrist said that she had noticed progress in
Armenia’s development for her short-term presence here. She said that
thanks to Armenian communities overseas, Armenia and Armenians are
well-known everywhere.

Sweetzerlans started providing humanitarian aid to Armenia in 1988,
and since 1996 the country has put a special emphasis on long-term
development programs.

In 2004, an agreement on technical, financial and humanitarian
assistance was signed.

Under this program, $2.5 million is provided to Armenia as technical
support and another 2.9 million in grants as technical assistance.

Technical assistance is focused on natural resources management
improvement and state agencies administration transparency enhancement.

Humanitarian aid targets displaced people and refugees as well as
socially insecure citizens. Christine Egerszegi-Obrist came to Armenia
on Thursday for a four-day visit.

She is set to meet with Armenian President Robert Kochatyan, Armenian
National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosyan, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian and Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos
Garegin II.