YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The Armenian government has set up an interdepartmental commission to determine the risk and evaluate the possible damage the use of computers in Armenia may cause after the year 2000–vice-president of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia–Director of the Institute of Information and Automation Yuri Shukurian said in a Noyan Tapan interview.
The commission embraces government officials–members of the National Academy of Sciences (ANAS)–representatives of the Ministry of Defense–the Ministry of Finance & Economy–the Interior & National Security Ministry–the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications–the Central Bank and the Department of Civil Aviation. The head of the commission is ANAS President Fadei Sargsian.
Experts are concerned over the fact that the Year 2000 Problem may cause great trouble within automation control systems used in such vital spheres as the banking sector–air flight time tables–nuclear power plants–emergency management agencies–and more.
Working groups have already been assigned to make inventories and test computers at ministries and departmen’s with a view to determine which of the branches and facilities need re-equipment most.
The World Bank has issued a $100,000 grant to Armenia for the purpose of re-equipping facilities.
In Russia–experts estimate that their country will need $2-3 billion to cope with the problem.