FM, US Rep discuss opening of Millennium challenge office in Yerevan

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 14 2006

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, US CONGRESS DELEGATES DISCUSS OPENING OF
`MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT’ OFFICE IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, April 13. /ARKA/. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
and US Congress delegates discussed opening of a `Millennium
Challenge Account’ office in Yerevan in June 2006.
The Press Service of the RA Foreign Ministry, the US delegation
includes Executive Director of `Millennium Challenge Account’ John
Danilovich, Chairman of the subcommittee for foreign appropriations
of the committee for foreign programs of the House of Representatives
Jim Colby and the member of the budget commission and finance
services of the House of Representatives Scott Harriett.
During the meeting they also discussed issues of implementation of
the regulations of the agreement considering transparency of spending
corporation’s funds and awareness among the population. The parties
also discussed the issues of strengthening democracy and development
of a free economic system in Armenia.
They also touched upon the issues relating to the Armenian-Iranian
and Armenian-Turkish relations.
During the meeting Oskanyan presented in a general way the situation
with the settlement to the Karabakh conflict after the negotiations
in France.
The Armenian Government and the American `Millennium Challenge
Account’ corporation signed the agreement on earmarking $235.65mln
for a 5-year period to Armenia for developing agricultural
infrastructures, particularly restoration of roads and irrigation
systems. R.O. –0–