MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: press@mfa.am:

PRESS RELEASE

12 November 2004

Armenia Named Among Countries Eligible for Millennium Challenge Corporation
In The Second Round of Selection

On 10 November, Armenia’s Ambassador to the US Arman Kirakossyan attended a
ceremony hosted by the US Department of State to mark the second round of
selection of countries eligible to apply for Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA) assistance.

As reported earlier, this year’s MCA eligible countries are: Armenia,
Benin, Bolivia, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali,
Mongolia, Morocco (a new entry), Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu.

Attending the ceremony were Colin L. Powell, US Secretary of State and
Chairman of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Board of Directors,
ambassadors of the 16 eligible countries, members of the Board of
Directors, Chief Executive Officer Paul V. Applegarth, senior officials of
the US State Department and Administration, US Congress, NGO and private
sector representatives.

Speaking on the goals of this US initiative, Secretary Powell stated that
out of 68 candidate countries, the US Administration selected the 16 “which
have demonstrated through their policies and practices that they rule
justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom”. The
Secretary also added that selection, in and of itself, does not guarantee
funding; each Millennium Challenge Account country must first develop its
own proposal to promote growth and reduce poverty.

During the meeting, Secretary of State Colin Powell welcomed the ambassadors
of the 16 countries and congratulated on the occasion of their countries’
selection.