Thursday, 3 August 2006
Republic of Armenia Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received Vice President of the French Football Federation, member of FIFA and UEFA Executive Committees Michel Platini and the delegation headed by him, which included Deputy Director General of the FFF Jean-Louis Valentini. The meeting was attended by President of the Armenian Football Federation Ruben Hairapetyan.
The Prime Minister greeted the guests and said that he attached great importance to their visit as Armenia was preparing for the ceremonial opening of the Year of Armenia in France. The Prime Minister stressed that as a member of FIFA and UEFA Executive Committees, Mr. Platini had played an important role in a number of key programs launched by these two organizations and had made a significant contribution to the cause of developing football worldwide by promoting considerably the realization of several undertakings in Armenia.
Having touched upon the development of the Armenian football and the implementation of investment programs, the head of the GoA especially noted the importance of the FIFA-implemented "Goal" program, UEFA-launched "Hat-Trick" program and the program of small fields. In full swing now, these programs aroused great enthusiasm and interest with the population of all areas and communities of Armenia. According to Mr. Margaryan, these programs were the first sizeable undertakings in the wake of deterioration of sports infrastructures over the last few years having led to the commissioning of 15 more similar fields, with their number having to rise to forty on the long run. In general, the Prime Minister welcomed the passage of such decisions by the FIFA and the UEFA of similar decisions which would promote the progress of football in the less developed countries as the world football powers no longer faced challenges like these.
Michel Platini thanked the Prime Minister for the warm reception rendered and great interest shown to football, his familiarity with the problems facing this popular game today and noted that, for the first time in Armenia, he was deeply impressed by the Armenian
