YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian met with the World Bank regional director for South Caucasus Judy O’Connor on October 20–to discuss the outcome of a two-day meeting between the Armenian government and donor organizations–held from October 19 to 20–as well as prospects for further cooperation between Armenia and World Bank.
According to government press office–both sides expressed hope that the outcome of the meeting would be felt soon. According to O’Connor–the meeting was of paramount importance with respect to an upcoming business forum on Armenia to be held next year in New York.
O’Connor emphasized the public’s active involvement in and supervision over the realization of a program on poverty reduction worked out by the government. She added that the World Bank is planning to provide assistance for program implementation.
She also said that the World Bank would soon announce about its assistance to Social Investment Fund that is going to put into operation the second stage of its program.
She praised the activities of the Armenian Development Agency–which–as she said–have recently shown significant progress.
Prime Minister Markarian was quoted by his press office as saying that " there should be mutual trust between Armenian government and donor organizations so that the public does not show distrust towards both the government and donor organizations if the outcome of realized programs is not immediately tangible."
According to Prime Minister–the final objective of the government is to provide the people with decent living conditions. He added that delay in donor organizations’ assistance may result in emergence of undesired social tension that may put into doubt the joint work.