Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Today RA Prime Minister has received the delegation of the Armenian Relief Fund of America, led by Primate of the Eastern Diocese of North America Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. The meeting was attended by Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese of Armenia.
Welcoming the members of such a representative delegation, the Prime Minister said that since Armenia's independence, ex-officio he had had several occasions of working closely and efficaciously with the Armenian Relief Fund of America and now was looking forward to continued close collaboration to for the sake of Motherland's development and strengthening to the benefit of our people's prosperity.
At the request of the guests, Serge Sargsyan briefed them on the forthcoming programs and priorities of his government, as well as on his vision of the GoA-ARF cooperation. The Prime Minister said that the time has come to make a shift towards development programs. He emphasized the coordinated work of the State and partner organizations on the basis of program collating to help make a better use of the existing potentialities in solving the problems available.
Thanking the Prime Minister for warm reception and congratulating him on his appointment, the members of ARF delegation in turn expressed readiness to hold on with the Fund's mission aimed at Armenia's development, strengthening and progress and, in this context, to continue supporting the Armenian authorities. They said to be pleased that the principles embraced by the ARF were in full harmony with GoA's priorities.
ARF President, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of North America Archbishop Khajag Barsamian informed the Prime Minister that, inter alia, the delegation was in Armenia to attend the inaugural ceremony of the new premises of the ARF Yerevan office and took the opportunity to thank Mr. Sargsyan for his support of building allocation. As assured by ARF Executive Director Garnik Nanagoulyan, upon conclusion of this visit they were going to discuss the development programs of the Fund for the next 10 years with the intention of giving them a development bias.
At the close of the meeting, for active participation in the establishment of the Armenian statehood, Serzh Sargsyan handed in the Premier's commemorative medal to ARF Founder and Honorary Secretary Gevorg Hovnanyan, Founding President of Hovnanyan Enterprises.
