PRESS RELEASE March 30, 2006
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: armecon@speakeasy.net ;Web:
High Level Armenian Government Delegation Visits the United States for MCC
Signing Ceremony
A high-level delegation of the Armenian Government visited Washington, D.C.
on March 27 – 28, 2006 for the inauguration of the compact between the
Republic of Armenia and the United States through the Millennium Challenge
Corporation. The delegation, headed by Finance and Economy Minister Vardan
Khachatrian, included Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Chief Economic
Adviser to the President Vahram Nercissiantz, and Ambassador Tatoul
Markarian.
The signing ceremony of the MCC-Armenia compact was held in the State
Department, in the presence of U.S. and Armenian government officials, and
leading members of the Armenian American community. Secretary of State Dr.
Condoleezza Rice, who hosted the ceremony, MCC CEO Ambassador John
Danilovich, and Minister Vartan Oskanian delivered remarks during the
ceremony. The compact, signed by Minister Khachatrian and Ambassador
Danilovich, will provide $235 million toward the economic development of the
rural regions of Armenia, including rehabilitation of the rural road network
and irrigation system.
Following the signing ceremony, Minister Oskanian had a meeting with
Secretary Rice to discuss issues of bilateral interest. He also held a
number of meetings with U.S. State Department officials on the margins of
the visit, including Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia
Ambassador Daniel Fried, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza, as well
as Ambassador Steven Mann, U.S. Special Negotiator for the Nagorno Karabakh
Conflict. During these meetings, he was accompanied by Ambassador Tatoul
Markarian.
Minister Oskanian spoke on the record at the National Press Club, commenting
on the developments in Armenia and the region, including the Nagorno
Karabakh peace process and energy security issues. On the evening of March
27, Minister Oskanian addressed the participants of the Pan-Armenian
Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., co-hosted by the Armenian Assembly
of America, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, and the Eastern and
Western Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church. On March 28, Minister
Oskanian and Ambassador Markarian visited the newly-opened premises of the
Armenian National Committee of America in Washington.
On March 28, Finance and Economy Minister Khachatrian and MCC CEO Ambassador
John Danilovich held a public outreach meeting at the U.S. Congress to
present the MCC Armenia compact. Representative Frank Pallone addressed the
public outreach meeting, extolling the MCC Compact as the latest
manifestation of strong U.S.-Armenian partnership. Representatives of NGO’s,
development organizations, and U.S. government officials attended the event.
On March 28, the Embassy of Armenia hosted a reception on the occasion of
the MCC-Armenia compact and honoring the members of the Armenian delegation
visiting Washington, D.C. The reception was attended by White House and
State Department officials, representatives of the Armenian-American
organizations, and community members.
From: Baghdasarian