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PRIME MINISTER'S TARGET OF WEST
The reply of the government to the U.S. ambassador did not come late.
Tigran Sargsyan stated in the meeting of government that the addressee
of allegations of mismanagement of Millennium Challenge projects is
the U.S. government, not the Armenian government.
"The disbursement agreements were signed in 2007 when the agency
had not even been set up. The American side announced reward of
contracts, selected the winner, signed the compact, disbursed the
grant, audited and evaluated the results as quite effective," Tigran
Sargsyan announced.
During the IT forum a few days ago the U.S. ambassador John Heffern
stated that the government had better keep away from the IT sector
not to hinder its development.
Apparently, Tigran Sargsyan was insulted by this statement. He
evoked Millennium Challenge in a different context but did not miss
the chance to blame the U.S. government latently. At the same time,
Tigran Sargsyan expressed his dissatisfaction that the Americans
hear that he is criticized but do not intervene and argue that Tigran
Sargsyan has no role in this process.
What will the American side say? It is hardly possible that
mismanagement in Millennium Challenge will be stated. The United States
will thus lose the moral right to teach democracy to the Armenian
government, criticize the government for insufficient efforts to combat
corruption. On the other hand, there is obviously lack of confidence
between Tigran Sargsyan and the West, which is, most probably, the
reason for this exchange of unpleasant statements. The prime minister
is apparently dissatisfied that in this stage of political offensives
he does not get sufficient support from the West.
It is not ruled out that Tigran Sargsyan is dissatisfied with the
lack of investments pledged in December 2012 during his American visit.
Confidence may have ended late in May in Minsk after the meeting
of Tigran Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev where Tigran Sargsyan spoke
about signing of the memorandum of cooperation with the Customs Union
and deepening of integration. Perhaps afterwards the west demanded
explanations from Tigran Sargsyan and the prime minister did not
have any.
In December 2012 Tigran Sargsyan had a visit to the United States with
a tight schedule and achieved some agreements in the Silicon Valley
on investments in Armenia. Tigran Sargsyan was helped by ambassador
Heffern, the ambassador who was going to announce in a few months
that the government had better keep away from the IT sector not to
hinder its development.
Seven or eight months ago in Washington Tigran Sargsyan had an ad-hoc
meeting with Vice-President Biden. The meeting was a significant
support to Tigran Sargsyan. Perhaps Sargsyan did not live up to the
expectations if economic support is delayed after political support.
Meanwhile, economic support is essential to the spine of the Armenian
government.
It is not clear what Tigran Sargsyan expects from the West although
it is possible that the expectations were from Serzh Sargsyan, and
Tigran Sargsyan is the victim of non-implementation of the agreements
between the West and Serzh Sargsyan.
It is not ruled out that there is another purpose for this controversy
with Tigran Sargsyan. More exactly, an attempt is made to smear
Tigran Sargsyan's reputation of the "West's favorite" and thereby
curb possible dissatisfaction and aggressiveness of Russia, thereby
saving Tigran Sargsyan from being the target of the possible Russian
offensive on Armenia.
Hakob Badalyan 13:16 28/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30309
From: Baghdasarian
The reply of the government to the U.S. ambassador did not come late.
Tigran Sargsyan stated in the meeting of government that the addressee
of allegations of mismanagement of Millennium Challenge projects is
the U.S. government, not the Armenian government.
"The disbursement agreements were signed in 2007 when the agency
had not even been set up. The American side announced reward of
contracts, selected the winner, signed the compact, disbursed the
grant, audited and evaluated the results as quite effective," Tigran
Sargsyan announced.
During the IT forum a few days ago the U.S. ambassador John Heffern
stated that the government had better keep away from the IT sector
not to hinder its development.
Apparently, Tigran Sargsyan was insulted by this statement. He
evoked Millennium Challenge in a different context but did not miss
the chance to blame the U.S. government latently. At the same time,
Tigran Sargsyan expressed his dissatisfaction that the Americans
hear that he is criticized but do not intervene and argue that Tigran
Sargsyan has no role in this process.
What will the American side say? It is hardly possible that
mismanagement in Millennium Challenge will be stated. The United States
will thus lose the moral right to teach democracy to the Armenian
government, criticize the government for insufficient efforts to combat
corruption. On the other hand, there is obviously lack of confidence
between Tigran Sargsyan and the West, which is, most probably, the
reason for this exchange of unpleasant statements. The prime minister
is apparently dissatisfied that in this stage of political offensives
he does not get sufficient support from the West.
It is not ruled out that Tigran Sargsyan is dissatisfied with the
lack of investments pledged in December 2012 during his American visit.
Confidence may have ended late in May in Minsk after the meeting
of Tigran Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev where Tigran Sargsyan spoke
about signing of the memorandum of cooperation with the Customs Union
and deepening of integration. Perhaps afterwards the west demanded
explanations from Tigran Sargsyan and the prime minister did not
have any.
In December 2012 Tigran Sargsyan had a visit to the United States with
a tight schedule and achieved some agreements in the Silicon Valley
on investments in Armenia. Tigran Sargsyan was helped by ambassador
Heffern, the ambassador who was going to announce in a few months
that the government had better keep away from the IT sector not to
hinder its development.
Seven or eight months ago in Washington Tigran Sargsyan had an ad-hoc
meeting with Vice-President Biden. The meeting was a significant
support to Tigran Sargsyan. Perhaps Sargsyan did not live up to the
expectations if economic support is delayed after political support.
Meanwhile, economic support is essential to the spine of the Armenian
government.
It is not clear what Tigran Sargsyan expects from the West although
it is possible that the expectations were from Serzh Sargsyan, and
Tigran Sargsyan is the victim of non-implementation of the agreements
between the West and Serzh Sargsyan.
It is not ruled out that there is another purpose for this controversy
with Tigran Sargsyan. More exactly, an attempt is made to smear
Tigran Sargsyan's reputation of the "West's favorite" and thereby
curb possible dissatisfaction and aggressiveness of Russia, thereby
saving Tigran Sargsyan from being the target of the possible Russian
offensive on Armenia.
Hakob Badalyan 13:16 28/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30309
From: Baghdasarian