Only By Organizing Free and Fair Elections Armenia Will Continue To

[Chalian Meline]

ONLY BY ORGANIZING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARMENIA WILL CONTINUE TO
TAKE PART IN MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE PROGRAM, ANTHONY GODFREY DECLARES

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. "Only by continuing the democratic
reforms, including organization of free and fair elections in
2007-2008, Armenia will continue to take part in the Millennium
Challenge program." U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Armenia Anthony Godfrey
declared this at the January 24 press conference.

In A.Godfrey's words, if serious faults are fixed during the
elections, the right of Armenia's participation in the program will
be reconsidered. Meanwhile, he expressed confidence that "nothing of
the kind will happen this year."

It was mentioned that the precondition for program's implementation
is permanent manifestation of commitment to continuing reforms by
Armenia. In A.Godfrey's words, RA government should provide high
indices of activity for Armenia to receive all financial resources
envisaged by the program.

In 2006 the U.S. Millennium Challenge corporation confirmed the
first financial allocation of 1.4 mln USD to the Millennium Challenge
Fund-Armenia program. According to the agreement signed between the
Millennium Challenge Fund and RA government, 236 mln USD will be
allocated to Armenia within five years.

Millennium Challenge corporation representative Alex Rasin said
that projecting of irrigation systems and road reconstruction will
be implemented this year, some assistance will be provided to farms
and the main construction activities will start later.