PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSIONS AROUND MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE PROGRAM TO BE DISCUSSED
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 13 2006
On April 12, RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan received the delegation
headed by Congressman Jim Kolbe, U.S. Chairman of the Appropriations
Foreign Operations Subcommittee and Ambassador John Danilovich, Chief
Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. John Evans,
Ambassador of U.S. to Armenia attended the meeting.
During the meeting issues concerning the implementation of the
Millennium Challenge Compact Armenia program were discussed. The 235
million dollars Millennium Challenge Compact program, which is focused
on the economic development and reduction of rural poverty, designs to
rehabilitate up to 943 km of rural roads, irrigation infrastructure
schemes, provide technical and rural credit assistance. The NA
President Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted the Millennium Challenge
Compact Armenia program from three main viewpoints: the development of
the marzes of Armenia - reduction of the disproportionate development
of the capital and marzes, deepening of democracy and the input of the
public monitoring mechanisms by the civil society. As the NA President
assessed, the program will greatly assist to the development of the
marzes, reduction of rural poverty.
During the meeting the Millennium Challenge Compact Armenia program
was also highlighted within the framework of 2007 and 2008 pan-national
elections as assistance to the development of democracy.
Conveying his thanks to the U.S. Government for the continuous
assistance to Armenia, the NA President highlighted the importance
of external assistance for the democratic processes in the country,
noting that "the economic development and deepening of democracy in
Armenia should proceed side by side."
Mr. Danilovich and Congressman Jim Kolbe, touching upon the democratic
reforms and economic development of Armenia, noted the necessity
of political will, providing political freedoms, priority of laws
and publicity of the program implementation, holding the coming
pan-national elections in accordance with international standards
for deepening those reforms. In meeting those terms the program
will fully work. The Ambassador Danilovich emphasized once again
the resolve of the U.S. higher ranking political leaders and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation to be led with the main standards,
by which is conditioned the assistance to Armenia within the program.
The Ambassador Danilovich and Congressman Danilovich highlighted
the high awareness of the deputies of the National Assembly and their
participation in the monitoring of the implementation on the Millennium
Challenge Compact Armenia program. An agreement was reached to organize
parliamentary hearings in the National Assembly with participation
of Government members, NGOs, the Millennium Challenge Corporation,
U.S. Embassy and other parties concerned, during which a detailed
program will be introduced, the problems of public monitoring and
efficiency of program implementation will be discussed.
RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan asked to convey his greetings
to Mr. Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. Congress, and as there were
congressmen in the delegation, the NA President also touched upon the
problem of close relations and strengthening of the dialog between the
U.S. Congress and RA National Assembly, highlighting the involvement
of RA NA in the programs implementing upon the initiative of the
U.S. Congress Democracy Assistance Committee. Congressman Jim Kolbe,
U.S. Chairman of the Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee
promised to assist in that issue.
During the meeting other issues were also discussed.
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 13 2006
On April 12, RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan received the delegation
headed by Congressman Jim Kolbe, U.S. Chairman of the Appropriations
Foreign Operations Subcommittee and Ambassador John Danilovich, Chief
Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. John Evans,
Ambassador of U.S. to Armenia attended the meeting.
During the meeting issues concerning the implementation of the
Millennium Challenge Compact Armenia program were discussed. The 235
million dollars Millennium Challenge Compact program, which is focused
on the economic development and reduction of rural poverty, designs to
rehabilitate up to 943 km of rural roads, irrigation infrastructure
schemes, provide technical and rural credit assistance. The NA
President Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted the Millennium Challenge
Compact Armenia program from three main viewpoints: the development of
the marzes of Armenia - reduction of the disproportionate development
of the capital and marzes, deepening of democracy and the input of the
public monitoring mechanisms by the civil society. As the NA President
assessed, the program will greatly assist to the development of the
marzes, reduction of rural poverty.
During the meeting the Millennium Challenge Compact Armenia program
was also highlighted within the framework of 2007 and 2008 pan-national
elections as assistance to the development of democracy.
Conveying his thanks to the U.S. Government for the continuous
assistance to Armenia, the NA President highlighted the importance
of external assistance for the democratic processes in the country,
noting that "the economic development and deepening of democracy in
Armenia should proceed side by side."
Mr. Danilovich and Congressman Jim Kolbe, touching upon the democratic
reforms and economic development of Armenia, noted the necessity
of political will, providing political freedoms, priority of laws
and publicity of the program implementation, holding the coming
pan-national elections in accordance with international standards
for deepening those reforms. In meeting those terms the program
will fully work. The Ambassador Danilovich emphasized once again
the resolve of the U.S. higher ranking political leaders and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation to be led with the main standards,
by which is conditioned the assistance to Armenia within the program.
The Ambassador Danilovich and Congressman Danilovich highlighted
the high awareness of the deputies of the National Assembly and their
participation in the monitoring of the implementation on the Millennium
Challenge Compact Armenia program. An agreement was reached to organize
parliamentary hearings in the National Assembly with participation
of Government members, NGOs, the Millennium Challenge Corporation,
U.S. Embassy and other parties concerned, during which a detailed
program will be introduced, the problems of public monitoring and
efficiency of program implementation will be discussed.
RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan asked to convey his greetings
to Mr. Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. Congress, and as there were
congressmen in the delegation, the NA President also touched upon the
problem of close relations and strengthening of the dialog between the
U.S. Congress and RA National Assembly, highlighting the involvement
of RA NA in the programs implementing upon the initiative of the
U.S. Congress Democracy Assistance Committee. Congressman Jim Kolbe,
U.S. Chairman of the Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee
promised to assist in that issue.
During the meeting other issues were also discussed.