MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES FOUNDATION STOPPED FINANCING CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 10, 2009
Yerevan, April 10, Noyan Tapan. Millennium Challenges Foundation
regards two spheres: implementation of Armenia’s program and its
correspondence to requirements of the corporation, including the
fight against corruption, told Alex Rasin, Director of the Millennium
Challenges Corporation (MCC) "Armenia at the meeting organized
on April 8. Speaking about the relevance of the goals and works
carried out in the country to the standards and requirements of MCC,
Rasin particularly mentioned: "In respect of these several indicators
Armenia has fallen short. After the last years events on March 1 the US
representatives have had a permanent dialog with Armenia’s government
representatives of in order to understand, what kind of tangible
measures have been taken to change the situation". According to Rasin,
having concerns in this respect the corporation suspended financing
all construction works, particularly the rehabilitation of rural
roads. The government of Armenia offered to invest about 16..8 million
USD to complete the reconstruction of roads, mentioned Rasin. 16..8
million USD provided by the government have not been spent yet and
the construction works continue and are projected to be completed by
January 2010. The program of the "Millennium Challenges Corporation"
started in Armenia on September 29, 2006. Under the agreement signed
in March 2006 the Armenia’s Government receives a grant of 5million
within five years. The resources are intended for reduction of rural
poverty in the country, rehabilitation of roads and water systems.