USATF ACTION PLAN SIGNED

ArmenPress
March 23 2005

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS: On March 23, Minister of Finance
and Economy Vartan Khachatrian and U.S. Ambassador John Evans signed
the Action Plan of the most recent meeting of the U.S.-Armenia Task
Force on Economic Cooperation (USATF). The current document
highlights areas in which the two governments are cooperating in the
fields of development assistance.
“This Action Plan is our development roadmap,” said Ambassador
Evans of the signing ceremony. “It helps us set clear goals and
ensures that we are cooperating as governments toward a bright future
for the Armenian people.”
Topics in the 30-point action plan include ways to improve fiscal
administration, strengthen the banking sector, fight corruption,
engage the business community, meet Armenia’s needs in the public
service sector and strengthen ongoing cooperation in the agricultural
and humanitarian sectors. The document also acknowledges the
Government of Armenia’s eligibility for the Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA) and the need to register progress in MCA eligibility
areas. The signing was preceded by a series of working-level meetings
on each of these items between officials of the U.S. Embassy and
USAID and various Government of Armenia ministries. USAID-Armenia
Director Robin Phillips also participated in the event.
The U.S.-Armenia Task Force on Economic Cooperation was
established in January 2000 as a way to institutionalize
government-to-government dialogue on development issues, promote
further economic cooperation and maximize the effectiveness of
assistance programs implemented by the United States Government.
Meetings are held twice a year (once in the United States and once in
Armenia). The next USATF meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held
in May 2005 in Yerevan.
The United States Government has provided over 1.5 billion dollars
of assistance to the Republic of Armenia over the past decade.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress