Friday, 22 October 2004
Today RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan has received Mme Maude de Bour-Boukiko, Undersecretary General of the European Union, who is in Yerevan to attend an international conference referred to as "For the Advancement of Women - National Plan of Action."
Satisfied with the fact that this important international forum was attended by representatives from the European Union and a number of key international organizations, the Prime Minister expressed hope that it would help meet the targets set in national programs aimed at the advancement of women's social status. He noted that the Armenian government kept focus over women's problems and had taken specific steps to enhance female involvement in public administration. According to the head of the government, the executive expected some of these problems to be addressed through the implemention of the national strategy for poverty reduction. Stressing that the government of the Republic of Armenia had already approved the 2004-2010 Program for the improvement of women's status and enhancement of their role in the society, he pointed out to the need in assistance available from international institutions and the EU in particular.
For her part, Mme Maude de Bour-Boukiko expressed her appreciation of Armenia's participation in the activities carried out within the framework of the European Union, especially as regarded the fight for gender equality and against illegal trafficking of humans. By emphasizing the fact that Armenia's representative was deputy chairman of the committee drafting the convention on the fight against illegal trafficking, she said to be hopeful that this fundamental instrument, upon approval at the next Summit of the European Union, would make a serious contribution as to the struggle against the above-mentioned vicious practices.
During the meeting, the parties have also discussed issues bearing on the implementation of the commitments assumed by Armenia upon accession to the EU, peaceful settlement of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh and other issues of mutual interest.
