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The ninth session of the U.S.-Armenia intergovernmental task force
on economic cooperation (USATF) was held in Washington, DC on 4
October, 2004. USATF is the format that promotes discussions between
the governments of the United States and Armenia on bilateral economic
and related issues. Its sessions are held on a bi-annual basis.
The Armenian
delegation to the Ninth Session of USATF was headed by Finance and
Economy Minister, Vardan Khachatryan, and included Chairman of State
Committee on Water Management, Andranik Andreasyan, Chief Economic
Adviser to the President, Vahram Nercissiantz, Central Bank Chairman,
Tigran Sargsian, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian,
and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Economy and Foreign
Affairs.
The agenda for the USATF meeting included issues such as coordination
and directions of U.S. assistance programs in Armenia within the
context of the Armenian governments strategy for poverty reduction
and sustaining economic growth, the current status of the Millenium
Challenge Account programs' process in Armenia, banking sector development,
business environment, further reforms in energy sector, agriculture
and irrigation, strengthening counterterrorism capabilities, and
other issues of bilateral concern.
Prior to the USATF session, the Armenian governmental delegation
participated in the annual Governor's Meeting of the World Bank
and the International Monetary Fund on 2-3 October, 2004.
On 3 October, the Embassy of Armenia hosted a reception in honor
of the Armenian delegation, with participation of officials from
the U.S. government and international financial organizations, including
CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Paul Applegarth, U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, NSC Deputy Director for Europe
and Eurasia, Matthew Bryza, and World Bank Country Director for
Armenia and the South Caucasus, Donna Dowset-Coirola, as well as
representatives of the Armenian-American organizations.
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