RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED CHARLES LONSDALE, AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Mond ay, 11 May 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Charles Lonsdale, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, and British Council’s Armenia Office
Director Arevik Saribekyan.

Ambassador Charles Lonsdale presented the EU Skills program,
co-financed by British Council’s Armenia Office and the British
Embassy in Armenia, seeking to exchange know-how and improve European
integration-related skills among public sector officers. The program
is implemented simultaneously in all 3 South Caucasian countries –
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia – and is aimed at ensuring compliance with
the obligations assumed under the European Neighborhood Policy. The
program start-up will be followed by a needs assessment stage for which
the British side expects to be supported by the government of Armenia.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that the program is very
interesting with its well selected targets.

The program features training provided by corresponding experts invited
from Europe inclusive of the United Kingdom. In line with a preliminary
arrangement reached with stakeholder representatives, priority will be
given to public governance, report drafting, monitoring and evaluation
skills, as well as to public relations and media management.