Amanda Bennett, Director of the Voice of America, presented her views on the importance of free press during a meeting with civil society leaders from Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine, and who are currently in the US to get familiarized with the work of American institutions and share their own knowhow.

The visit by Armenia’s civil society leaders is organized within the framework of the Open World program funded by the US Congress and implemented by the US Embassy in Armenia, Embassy Press Officer Taguhi Jahukyan said.

“The program provides opportunities for professionals from Armenia to meet with their American colleagues and get familiarized with the American track-record locally, and later, using the established links, making their work more productive,” she added.

From Washington, D.C., the Armenian participants will travel to Detroit to meet with their colleagues there.

George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the European and Eurasian Bureau at the US Department of State, spoke for more than an hour behind closed doors with these participants in the Open World program. Also, recalled that this program envisages a bilateral exchange of experience, and therefore the American side will also have the opportunity to learn from Armenian professionals.