YEREVAN, April 25, /ARKA/. In the first quarter of 2012 eight insurance companies operating in Armenia paid a total of 2.188.5 billion drams as compensation for damages caused by traffic accidents involving mandatory insured cars, the Bureau of Car Insurers said in a statement.

According to the statement, overall 11,022 claims were satisfied.

According to official numbers, there are about 430,000 vehicles in Armenia, but only 334,000 have bought mandatory insurances. The Bureau said also some 8.5 billion drams in insurance premiums were collected in the first quarter.

The mandatory insurance against physical damage caused to other cars and individuals became mandatory in Armenia on January 1, 2011. ($1-392.56 drams). -0-