YEREVAN, JUNE 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The progress registered at the May 12 parliamentary elections was inspiring and there is a hope that the democrartic process will make progess in parallel with it. Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) John Danilovich stated this on June 11 during the opening ceremony of Millennium Challenge Account - Armenia (MCA-Armenia) Yerevan Office. The press release given to reporters says that "these elections seemed to be a progress by international standards but we will continue following closely the investigation of accusations regarding electoral violations." Expressing satisfation at the programs implemented by MCC in Armenia, John Danilovich said that 6 million out of 236 million dollars envisaged for these programs has already been allocated. Agreements on another 25 million dollars are ready for signing. According to the MCC press release, MCC Board will make decisions about the participation of all countries included in the Millennium Challenge Fund's program, including Armenia, at its annual sitting to be held in December. The RA minister of finance and economy Vardan Khachatrian expressed a hope that all programs will operate by late 2007, which will allow to reduce poverty in Armenia by another 5%.

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