U.S. funds for Armenia come with a warning (IHT/NYT)

[Up2Late]

(Warning: This article contains Extreme irony, I never knew * was so concerned with ending poverty.)

U.S. funds for Armenia come with a warning

By Celia W. Dugger The New York Times

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2005
President George W. Bush's foreign aid program aimed at reducing poverty in well-governed developing countries has announced its second-largest grant, giving $236 million to Armenia over five years. But officials warned the country's rulers that the assistance would be suspended or canceled if its record on political rights continued to deteriorate.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, the agency administering the program, delayed its approval of the plan to invest in rural roads and irrigation projects in Armenia after allegations of fraud and electoral mismanagement arose in a constitutional referendum on Nov. 27. Even as the agency announced Monday that it was moving forward, it released a stern letter to the Armenian president, Robert Kocharian, calling for corrective steps to improve the fairness of the political process. Stephen Groff, a managing director at the agency, said it was awaiting a reply....

(clip)

...The Millennium Challenge Corporation relies on Freedom House, a nonprofit group that promotes democracy, to rate countries' respect for civil liberties and political rights. Christopher Walker, the group's expert on the former Soviet Union, said political rights in Armenia deteriorated in 2004 and had not improved this year. He also said corruption was pervasive.

(clip)

Bush advocated the creation of the corporation, now almost two years old, to aid poor countries that rule justly, invest in their people and have sensible economic policies. His theory, shared by many development experts, was that well-governed countries would not waste aid, but would use it to spark economic growth and reduce poverty.

<http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/20/news/armen.php>
(more at link above)

[Miss Chybil]

1. I wonder how much aid this corporation skims off the top.

And I also wonder who's watching out for political fraud in this country?

[Wilms]

2. Nice that they got "the second largest" grant, given rampant corruption.

There's an active lobby for Armenia, and it's geographical location is (as historically) a factor.

The irony may extend to many levels.

[Canuckistanian]

3. They're just paying off the wrong people

It's not corruption if the money is going to the BFEE.

[Wilms]

5. You got it. That what I meant.

"The irony may extend to many levels."

;)

[me b zola]

6. Does the natural gas pipeline go through Armenia??

bush* turds don't do anything without an evil motive.

[Up2Late]

7. Hummmm, Could beeee

Have a look:

<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/caspgase.html>

[no_hypocrisy]

4. (T)he assistance would be suspended or canceled

if (Armenia's) record on political rights continued to deteriorate."

Uh huh.

Turkey committed genocide against Armenia 100 years ago.

Turkey has a very bad track record on human rights.

And Armenia is threatened with cut-off of aid.

Turkey, in the meantime, is giving military and financial aid and the U.S. is pushing members of EU to admit this country.

This reads like "Alice in Wonderland".

[Up2Late]

8. kick n/t

:kick: