YEREVAN, May 13 (Noyan Tapan). The U.S.-Armenia Task Force
on Economic Cooperation discussed the issue of servicing Armenia's debt of $45
million to the United States at its sixth meeting on May 12-13. The alternatives
of debt restructuring were discussed. During the press conference on Tuesday,
the Armenian Co-Chairman of the Task Force, Finance and Economy Minister Vardan
Khachatrian reported that during the two-day meetings, the sides discussed problems
concerning U.S. aid to Armenia for macroeconomic showings of our country, anti-corruption
struggle, illegal human trafficking, struggle against money laundering, trade
and economic relations between the two countries and democracy building.
According to Acting American Co-Chairman Thomas Adams, though the size of U.S.
assistance to Armenia was reduced by 10% this year, it is still the greatest
among the CIS countries. He accounted for the reduction by the high rates of
economic development in Armenia. According to him, in a few years when Armenia
will have a necessary level of economic development, this assistance will not
be necessary at all. It was also pointed out that the trade turnover between
Armenia and the United States has also boosted for the last two years, in particular,
nearly a 43% export growth was observed.