While the Threshold Country Program (TCP) has been under implementation during three years, Moldova launched a multilateral initiative to combat corruption and increase transparency in the public sector. This initiative must be further supported, the U.S. Ambassador in Chisinau Asif Chaudhry said Tuesday at a meeting held to officially close the TCP, Info-Prim Neo reports. Moldova and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation signed the TCP on September 15, 2006. It was administered by USAID and implemented by U.S. and Moldovan partners. “Now, at the end of the project, we, together with the Moldovan partners, celebrate the results achieved as part of the Threshold Country Program. In this period of political changes, we commit ourselves to further supporting Moldova in its efforts to reduce corruption, increase transparency and establish a state of law. We know from our experience that these efforts must be permanent as the results appear in time. We are and will be in Moldova to support and hep you,” the Ambassador said. The Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu, who is also the caretaker head of state, thanked the U.S. partners for their support. “In order to ensure the economic development and better living conditions in Moldova, the citizens must realize that they must be making the greatest effort in combating corruption,” he said. Outgoing Minister of Justice Vitalie Parlog, who is holding the post of Prime Minister on an interim basis, said that the TCP took Moldova to a new dimension of transparency and quality of the governance. Among the results obtained under the TCP are: the renovation of the courtrooms of three courts, installation of audio equipment for registering hearings in 153 courtrooms, issuing of over 90 national clinical protocols on the basis of international standards on diagnosis and treatment of patients in public medical institutions. The operational efficiency, transparency and services provided by the fiscal inspectorates were improved. There was opened the Consultancy Center for Taxpayers. The capacity of the employees of the Ministry of the Interior was improved by providing training courses, equipment and information technology. One-stop offices were set up at customs posts. There was created the first Civil Monitoring Council of Moldova. The communication with the mass media and the society was improved. Moldova's Threshold Country Program was implemented at a cost of about US$24.6 million. Achieving notable results under the TCP is a condition for becoming beneficiary of MCC Compact Assistance.