Washington will not wait long, they are demanding concrete actions from Karen Karapetyan
To acquire eligibility to attend the second round of the US government’s “Millennium Challenge Corporation” program, the country should pass the first scorecard, to the question of Tert.am as to whether Armenia can participate in the second round of the program, replied Spokeswoman of Corporation Laura Allen, detailing, “The unit indexes consisted of 20 indicators of the three-part institutions which measure the country’s responsibility in the spheres of Ruling Justly, Investing in people and Economic Freedom. One of the requirements to pass the unit index is that the country must make its accounts more than half of its competitors, according to the Control of Corruption score which comes from the World Bank.”
As Laura Allen mentioned, Armenia does not meet these requirements so far, “Armenia’s score is 48 percent which is below the 50 percent threshold percentage … The further round of the competition is very tense and the selection criteria thereof are higher than before. The reason is that the Millennium Challenge Corporation wishes to see fundamental proof to improve the policy, strong implementation of capacity as well as strive to implement reforms,” she said.
To the question what reforms are needed for Armenia, Laura Allen did not answer, she said that the question should be answered by the Armenian authorities. It is known that the Government of Armenia has officially confirmed about its intention to re-apply to the second round of the “Millennium Challenge” Corporation program. The issue of Armenia’s participation is on the Armenia-US economic cooperation agenda.
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Recall that in 2008, because of the presidential elections and the subsequent events of March 1, the 350 kilometers rural road repair program worth 68 million dollars implemented in Armenia by the “Millennium Challenge” program was suspended of rural roads in Armenia
Overall, since 1991, the assistance provided to Armenia by the programs of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) amounts to USD 2.18 billion. In addition, since 1998, USAID provided humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
After the presidential elections in the United States, many people wondered whether there might be changes in the Armenia-US relations, and many people have predicted that hardly any significant shift can be reported in the Armenian-US relationships.
“The U.S. remains committed to our shared goal of an independent and prosperous Armenia at peace with its neighbors, and regardless of who the next president is, the U.S. government and the U.S. Embassy will remain steadfast partners and friends to Armenia, as we work together to ensure the democratic and prosperous future that the Armenian people deserve,” – said the US Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, in his recent interview with journalists, adding that the US government is ready to work with Karen Karapetyan, and what he has heard until now from the Prime Minister regarding giving priority to the corruption task is encouraging.
Later on, the US Ambassador made a remarkable observation, “I think he is reacting to the problems that he listens from the Armenian people and the Armenian journalism: we must fight against corruption. We have to fight against corruption as it may stymie the growth of business and investments in Armenia. Corruption may also be a problem for the national security because the corrupt officials and corrupt businessmen outside Armenia can provide an opportunity to influence the developments in Armenia. I think the Prime Minister is aware of and concerned about all this. I have told the Prime Minister that the US Embassy and the government are ready to work with him and support him in any possible way.”
The US Ambassador’s speech if transferred from diplomatic to a popular language, then his message is clear and simple. Washington expects specific actions from Karen Karapetyan about the fight against corruption. The time to perceive the speeches and judgments of RA authorities as a reality and to believe them is gone.
US Ambassador gives a clear assessment: the corruption stymies the growth of business and investments in Armenia. Mills is explicitly emphasizing once again that corruption will become a problem for the national security. And a day before, he opened the “brackets” and showed its consequences, “because the corrupt officials and corrupt businessmen outside Armenia may have the chance to influence the developments in Armenia.”
This is more than a transparent remark about what to do that the corrupt officials and corrupt businessmen do not have an influence on the developments in Armenia from outside. Unless, of course, the Government of Armenia really wants to eradicate corruption in practice. The United States openly says that it is not going to “waste” its money.”
In other words, listening to Karen Karapetyan’s and his forms cabinet members’ speeches, Washington will not give “bonuses” to Armenia. Either a concrete action or nothing. The US Ambassador made it clear that although Karapetyan’s statements were “encouraging” however, concrete actions are required.
The statements of the US diplomat that the corrupt may be given a chance outside Armenia to influence the developments in Armenia, and it is a matter of national security, this must become a serious subject of consideration for the RA authorities. This is an assessment about one subject which the diplomat was sure having the fundamental understanding about Armenia and the systemic problems outside Armenia.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
