FREEZE ON U.S. AID TO ARMENIA ‘VERY REAL’

The United States could freeze its multimillion-dollar economic assistance to Armenia if the authorities in Yerevan continue to crack down on dissent, restrict civil liberties and roll back democratic reforms, a senior U.S. diplomat reiterated on Friday. The Armenian government’s unprecedented crackdown on the opposition that followed last month’s disputed presidential election has prompted serious concern from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on March 12 that the imposition of a state of emergency in Yerevan “made it necessary” to freeze some of the U.S. aid programs. She appeared to refer to $235.6 million in aid which Washington has promised allocate to Armenia under its Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program. In a March 11 letter to President Robert Kocharian, John Danilovich, chief executive of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), warned that the U.S. government agency managing the scheme could “suspend or terminate” the five-year aid package. In particular, he sited the 20-day state of emergency and the resulting government ban on independent news reporting. U.S. officials subsequently welcomed the lifting of emergency rule but said more needs to be done to improve Armenia’s democratic credentials. Daniel Fried, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, told RFE/RL last week that the authorities should free individuals arrested for their participation in post-election opposition demonstrations and engage in dialogue with opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian. Speaking to journalists in Yerevan on Friday, the U.S. charge d’affaires in Armenia, Joseph Pennington, stressed that the promised assistance has not been frozen yet. “That decision has not been made,” he said. “We think it is only fair to give the new administration time to turn the situation around. So if we see those negative trends turn into a positive direction, obviously that will have a positive impact on the decisions of MCC.” “But if we don’t see a commitment on the Armenian side to get back on a democratic trajectory, then obviously the possibility of suspension is very real,” he added. Pennington noted that Armenia’s eligibility for MCA funding was “in trouble” even before the dramatic post-election events in Yerevan. He pointed to a perceived lack of democratic change, restrictions on press freedom and the scale of government corruption in the country. The U.S. aid package is designed to significantly reduce rural poverty by upgrading Armenia’s irrigation networks and about 1,000 kilometers of rural roads. According to Armenian and U.S. officials, it would benefit 75 percent of the country’s million-strong rural population. Kocharian shrugged off last week the U.S. threats to freeze the aid, saying that the Armenian government can find other sources of funding for the rural infrastructure projects. He also scoffed at U.S. President George W. Bush’s failure so far to congratulate Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian on his hotly disputed victory in the February 19 presidential election. Pennington would not be drawn on whether or not Bush will eventually send a congratulatory message to Sarkisian. “I don’t want to speculate on what the White House or Washington may or may not do,” he said. “But what I can say is that the U.S. government is looking forward to working with the new president and getting Armenia back to a democratic trajectory.” (Photolur photo: Joseph Pennington.)
By Ruben Meloyan

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163 days before | remove (5) | reply
MIHRAN wrote:
In one paragraph we get several messages indicating that the elections results wer'nt what the USA expected.USA should have understood that Armenia never gave in to brutal political pressure DURING ITS 3 THIOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY.
GENOCIDE/BOLCHEVISM/COMMUNISM are the latest proofs of our love to freedom and independance. I am certain neither the USA or ISRAEL have any objections AGAINST THE ARMENIAN nation or the republic.the contrary both are trying to help us any way possible.The big question is could they free themselves from being taken hostage by the Turkish goverment that denyies every aspect of the Armenian national inspirations.... Turkey is always the 1rst that accepts an independant Armenia or congratulates a new goverment,these are politically correct gestures only. they needs to go beyond that. they could insist for another century that it's against their religion to commit genocide they know the truth and we only accept an official appology and reparation of it's consequences .
Mihran
163 days before | remove (5) | reply
Misho wrote:
mihran aka 'axpari chut'
dashnaks helped young turks seize power, so indirectly dashnaks are responsible for genocide, this point is agreed by some of the influencial history professors in armenia. second armenia flourished under communism. Look at Armenia in 1920 then compare it to 1988-9. Oh if you've been outside Armenia so long you can't remember, then believe in this statistic in 2006 Armenia's sandard of living (after millions and millions from US and Diaspora) finally reached the last 80's level. Also US who gives $$$$ to Armenia reserves the right to criticize it, that right goes along with the $$$, and if Armenia doesn't like it they should have not accepted the $$$
162 days before | remove (5) | reply
MIHRAN wrote:
[quote=Misho]mihran aka 'axpari chut'dashnaks helped young turks seize power, so indirectly dashnaks are responsible for genocide, this point is agreed by some of the influencial history professors in armenia. second armenia flourished under communism. Look at Armenia in 1920 then compare it to 1988-9. Oh if you've been outside Armenia so long you can't remember, then believe in this statistic in 2006 Armenia's sandard of living (after millions and millions from US and Diaspora) finally reached the last 80's level. Also US who gives $$$$ to Armenia reserves the right to criticize it, that right goes along with the $$$, and if Armenia doesn't like it they should have not accepted the $$$[/quote
MISHO
Partly Dashnaks has to be blamed for the Genocide & coming to power of the young turks is a CUSTOMISED version of the soviets.Turkey in those days was being armed both by the west and the soviets no need to go into more details that would be another chapter . Turkey's final push as you should know was in PASH ABARAN/AND GHARAKILISE THE SOVIETS SAID DO'NT ATTACK THEM THOSE TURKS WILL'NT HARM YOU THEY ARE YOUY BROTHERENS.our people not our nation with one strong fiest turned the situation around on the front line our martyrs of those days gave the gift of birth of ou nation no matter how little it was THE BIRTH TO A SOVIET ARMENIA. THE SOVIETS/RUSSIA/USA ONLY WILL CONSIDER THEIR OWN INTERESTS FIRST THAT IS THE NORME OF POLITICS.WE ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM THIS PENOMENAN THE ISSUE OF KARAPAGH THYANKS TO STALIN'S WIZE GEOPOLITICALL DECISION.
we awe the usa/europe and all the nation of this world that try to give a helping hand to Armenia as for our diaspora dollars those dollars need not be counted it's every Armenian's duty of faith whoever is capable must help if not those helping nation of our world will criticise us.
Mihran
161 days before | remove (5) | reply
ARSHAK-10 wrote:
Dear Misho. I never argue anyone and respect anyones ideas. A Question: If You think Dashnaks are "Responsible" for the Genocide. Why You guys still use their Flag, Their Anthem...

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