John Heffern, U.S. Ambassador who is
ending his mandate to Armenia said in a farewell press conference on 19
December that Armenia has not received any invitation by the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, as it lacked some criteria necessary to participate in
the programs of the Corporation.
However, the situation has improved over the last two
years and Armenia has fulfilled most of the necessary requirements, especially
the anti-corruption measures. The
competition is very stiff and only 2-3 out of 23 countries receive invitations
to become part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, he said.
In 2006, the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Armenia signed a compact designed to
reduce rural poverty through a sustainable increase in the economic performance
of the agricultural sector. The program was completed in 5 years, the funds
were spent with no improvements in the country's development. Last year and this year the MCC refused to
implement any programs in Armenia.