Millennium Challenge Corporation confirms again Moldova’s eligibility for compact assistance

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has reasserted the decision that Moldova is eligible for compact assistance from the MCC funds in the fiscal year 2009, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the presidential press service. President Vladimir Voronin on January 13 received a letter from the MCC executive director John J. Danilovich, informing that the MCC Board of Directors reviewed the results achieved by Moldova and confirmed again the decision regarding Moldova’s eligibility for compact assistance from the MCC funds for the fiscal year 2009. The letters says that the eligibility does not guarantee financing from the MCC, but constitutes an essential stage in this process and Moldova must remain eligible until the Compact Program is signed. The letter mentions several aspects that are important for Moldova to remain eligible: poverty reduction; stimulation of economic growth; holding of fair legislative elections this year, and stepping up of efforts to fight human trafficking. The MCC official reasserted the readiness of the Corporation and its partners in the U.S. Government to further support the implementation of the reforms pursued by the Government of Moldova. John J. Danilovich approved of the steps taken to successfully implement the Threshold Country Program and to honor the commitments to carry out reforms taken by Moldova. According to him, these steps will play an important role in the process of advancing to the negotiation, finalization and signing of the Compact Program. The Millennium Challenge Corporation is ready to continue cooperating with the Moldovan authorities as reliable partners, the letter says. The Threshold Country Program formulated by the Government of Moldova in 2006 with the support of the MCC is to be completed in 2009. By the given program, Moldova committed itself to undertaking reforms to reduce corruption by implementing a pro-active systemic reform policy.