Armenpress
NORWAY, UNDP SIGN AID AGREEMENT FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS
NEW YORK, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Zephirin Diabre, Associate Administrator of
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and Jan Petersen, Foreign
Minister of Norway, signed on May 10 a Memorandum of Understanding
committing Norway to providing $10 million for UNDP projects in Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia over the next three years, UNDP said.
`I am deeply grateful for this commitment from Norway, which builds on
the country’s already substantial engagement, in partnership with UNDP, in
Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States,’ Mr. Diabre said during
the signing ceremony.
`This Memorandum represents a great opportunity to strengthen our ties
with UNDP,’ said Mr. Peterson. `Norway would like to help shape projects by
taking part in the implementation of programming in the South Caucasus.’
Norway will provide the funding for programs in democratic governance,
energy and sustainable development. The projects to be funded have yet to be
specified, and funding is contingent upon approval by the Norwegian
parliament.
UNDP country offices in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia already
collaborate closely with Norway. In Armenia, for example, Norway support
efforts aimed at fighting human trafficking, raising public awareness and
assisting trafficking victims. In Azerbaijan, Norway is contributing to a
UNDP Blood Bank project. And in Georgia, Norway has supported work on a
child labor survey, which UNDP has conducted together with the Georgian
Department of Statistics.
`These are very promising beginnings,’ said Mr. Diabre. `We are confident
that this will provide an excellent foundation for the expansion of our
joint efforts.’
Diabre and Petersen stressed that both UNDP and the Government of Norway
believe that effective democratic institutions are a key foundation for
mediating and mitigating conflict and crisis by providing non-violent means
of resolving political disputes and managing resources. They also provide a
base for implementing strong, country-owned development strategies to handle
political and economic shocks, to reduce corruption, and, critically, to
give the poor a political voice to secure the services and protections
needed to provide a better future for themselves and their families.
The Government of Norway plans involvement in the Southern Caucasus by
contributing more directly to development on a larger scale, both regional
and national, official said. In order to contribute in an efficient manner,
Norway needs the unique development know-how and coordination skills of UNDP
– especially in relations with local, regional and national authorities as
well as with civil society organizations, according to Norwegian authorities