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Our officials oppose to the famous “Freedom House” international organization in this way for the summons to stop rendering aid by “Millennium Challenge”.

Minister of Finance and Economic Vardan Khachatrian who signed the “Millennium Challenge” project\’s agreement which cost $235,65 million in the U.S. on March 27, now affirms in the interview given to “Azatutiun” b/s and “Aravot”; “There is no problem. We have three groups of indexes, about 16. Two of them are economic. If three indexes aren\’t kept in a group, they “become red”, then they may think of stopping the project. “Freedom House” summoned “Millennium Challenges” corporation to stop rendering aid to some countries including Armenia mentioning that we have low remarks in the sphere of political rights civic freedoms. In answer to this the Minister said: “Freedom House” examines only two indexes of a group. Three indexes of a group must “become red”. And not only “Freedom House” remarks, other public organizations must also express their opinion. In answer to our question whether he agrees with “Freedom House\’s” remark, the Minister of Finance and Economic said: “Of course, I don\’t agree. We have had problem in connection with the referendum. There has been nothing strange after referendum, to cause such apprehension. We\’ll have another serious event connected with democracy during the elections in May, 2007. But the remark for the coming elections may be used for the election in 2008.
The council of directors of “Millennium Challenge” corporation will select those governments tomorrow, which may apply for aid in 2007. “In my opinion, we have no problem. It is difficult to say what result “Freedom House\’s” summons will give. But taking into consideration those rules by which we work with “Millennium Challenges”, it shouldn\’t make a great influence,”- Vardan Khachatrian said. – Certainly, I can\’t be sure; they may decide whatever they want. But I hope it will be adopted”.
The Minister agreed with our observation that “Freedom House\’s” summons was a special yellow card addressed to Armenia.
NA chairman Tigran Torosian replied to “Freedom House\’s” summons more enthusiastically. During our conversation he agreed only with that organization\’s remark that the falsifications made during constitutional referendum in 2005 haven\’t been examined. But he didn\’t agree with other remarks of “Freedom House”, in particularly Armenia doesn\’t honor the commitments in the sphere of democratic management. “These remarks are rather strange. And not only for the reason that their refusal isn\’t grounded but also for the reason that according to the same “Freedom House\’s” remarks the indexes of Armenia have been improved in 2005 in comparison with the previous year. I think that “Freedom House” wasn\’t fair in its remarks to constitutional referendum. They have no true information about it.
It became obvious from Vardan Khachatrian\’s elucidations that “Millennium Challenges” corporation takes into consideration the monitoring results of “Freedom House”. While T. Torosian noticed: “It is surprising that “Freedom House” dictates other structures what they must do and how to do. I think it isn\’t a right approach for independent structures”. When we asked Mr. Torosian to predict whether Armenia will be included in the list of those governments, which may apply for aid, he answered: “I don\’t want to influent on the work of corporation. But I think there is no ground to refuse the continuation of the collaboration. Just the opposite, some steps have been taken which lead to the goals declared beforehand. I don\’t want to say that Armenia doesn\’t have any omission. Certainly, it has. But for correcting those omissions they should find them truly and those positive steps which are taken for it.”