tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660834.post4038031378322749361..comments2023-10-06T04:47:29.028-04:00Comments on Independent Armenia - Ազա՛տ, Անկա՛խ Հայաստան: Armenia's weakening importance in the US.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660834.post-66635551072277116612008-02-11T11:04:00.000-05:002008-02-11T11:04:00.000-05:00freida, probably because the land and labor were c...freida, probably because the land and labor were cheap so why not... This kind of expenditures can become pork barrel spending. They allocate a large sum of money and then have their buddies bid on the contracts and win. <BR/><BR/>There are signs of that in the MCA spending contracts. The largest contracts are awarded to foreign consultants.Ankakh_Hayastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05325640735361093139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660834.post-88537585026215723472008-02-11T01:27:00.000-05:002008-02-11T01:27:00.000-05:00But I wonder why America has decided to build it's...But I wonder why America has decided to build it's largest Embassy in the region in Armenia?Friedahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535213462691426625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660834.post-42792441165158281232008-02-07T11:57:00.000-05:002008-02-07T11:57:00.000-05:00Well I disagree with the MCA money. It is not a su...Well I disagree with the MCA money. It is not a success but a shame. <BR/>They trade with Azerbaijan as a partner but give us money as to a bagger. those are two different things. Personaly I would die but not become a bagger.<BR/>If we didnt go with the 1998 path we would probably be a transit country now cashing from nothing.Haikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03530769981310520268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660834.post-55158038754571200082008-02-07T10:21:00.000-05:002008-02-07T10:21:00.000-05:00For those interested, see http://www.mca.am/new/ar...For those interested, see <BR/><BR/>http://www.mca.am/new/armversion/awarded_contracts.php<BR/><BR/>for the awarded contracts for Millennium Challenge Account. It's quite interesting to see how much of the money goes where.Ankakh_Hayastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05325640735361093139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660834.post-18784416117763041862008-02-07T00:32:00.000-05:002008-02-07T00:32:00.000-05:00Except that Armenia gets $235 million in MCA money...Except that Armenia gets $235 million in MCA money instead, and Azerbaijan gets nothing. Personally, I favor money allocated in this way for concrete sustainable development projects rather than continued handouts decided politically. <BR/><BR/>Besides, Azerbaijan is in the center of attention because of oil. That's it, really, and perhaps represents the diminishing power of the Diaspora lobby with a Bush presidency more than anything else.<BR/><BR/>U.S. military aid is largely insignificant and just politically symbolic. Armenia receives far more assistance from Russia, and the Yanks wouldn't be allowed to do much more without pissing of Moscow anyway.<BR/><BR/>Point about U.S. endorsing Azerbaijan despite its bellicose militaristic statements accepted, though. However, in this region Armenia is always going to lose significance and importance over Azerbaijan and Georgia.<BR/><BR/>That's it, really.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com