STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)–A delegation of Armenian government members led by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan was in Nagorno-Karabakh last weekend to hold meetings with their local counterparts and discuss further cooperation.
The Armenian delegation’s visit was welcomed by Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan as an established tradition for senior officials to start their working visits from Karabakh.
Sargsyan, for his part, pledged efforts of the Armenian government to assist Karabakh.
Agriculture Minister Aramais Grigoryan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Hambartsumyan, Minister of Education and Science Spartak Seyranyan, Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan discussed issues of mutual interest with their Nagorno-Karabakh counterparts.
A joint meeting of the two governmen’s was also held. According to Nagorno Karabakh Republic Premier Ara Harutyunyan, Karabakh has always used and continues to use Armenia’s experience in solving different problems. And Premier Sargsyan pointed out the importance of “a second generation reform” for Karabakh and the need to attract foreign investmen’s, in particular, in the sphere of agricultural tourism.
The guests from Armenia were also introduced to the results of the Shushi Revival Fund’s work at the Shushi Center of Arts, Crafts and Tourism.
A telebridge Shushi-Bethlehem last January held upon the Fund’s initiative managed to raise $5.7 million for various programs in the town.
The delegation also got acquainted with the state of Shushi infrastructure and the course of construction and rehabilitation work. The guests, in particular, visited the construction site of the Armenian Central Bank’s affiliate in Shushi.
The meeting between Sahakyan and Armenian Central Bank Chairman Artur Javadyan resulted in an agreement on a broader participation of Armenian banks in loan and other programs in Karabakh. Affiliates of six Armenian banks currently operate in the territory of Karabakh.
On Sunday, the government delegation from Armenia participated in the opening of water-supply systems in the village of Khramort in Askeran province and the village of Kolkhozashen in Martuni province.
At the invitation of the Armenian premier, 30 children from different regions of Armenia participating in the “Learning Democracy” program of the “Future is Yours” benevolent NGO were visiting Nagorno-Karabakh during the days of the delegation’s visit.