Russia donates to rural communities Tavush province (Source: Arka)

YEREVAN (Arka)—The Russian government has donated $5 million to finance a program designed specifically for rural communities of Armenian Tavush province.

The program, called ‘Integrated support for rural development: strengthening the resilience of communities” is being implemented in concert with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of Armenia.

Under the program, some 62,000 residents of 45 border communities in Tavush region will be able to develop income-generating projects by 2020.

“The residents of these communities will themselves determine their priority projects. This is a new approach in support of people living in border villages,” said the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Bradley Buzetto.

He expressed hope that the program will attract additional funding and thanked the Russian government for its support.

Oleg Shapovalov from the Russian embassy in Armenia said; “Naturally, Armenia is our close neighbor and closest strategic ally. We have a number of humanitarian projects, which we are implementing in this country.”

“This is a very interesting program, which, in our opinion, will lead to a significant improvement in living and working conditions of the population of border rural communities. This is not only an economic, but also a social program,” said Shapovalov.