MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE OPEN TO COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

ARKA
July 16

The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) welcomes cooperation
with Armenia, MCC Executive Director John Danilovich said as he met
in Washington with RA Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan.

The specialists of the corporation highly appreciate joint efforts
with Armenia and expects to record good results in September,
Danilovich said.

The participants to the meeting discussed further programs, focusing
on Armenian-U.S. relations.

Minister Nalbandyan said the RA Government plans to allocate $17mln to
fulfill MCC-Armenia commitments, including the further implementation
of the Irrigated Agriculture Program.

The Millennium Challenge Armenia Program was launched on September
29, 2006.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Armenian Government
signed a 5-year agreement on awarding Armenia a grant worth $235.65mln
on March 27, 2006.

The Irrigated Agriculture Program contributes to sustained increases
in agricultural productivity and incomes through a combination
of training, technical assistance, access to credit and essential
equipment for farmers in the irrigation zones rehabilitated under
the program. MCC allocated some $11mln for the program last year.