PRESS RELEASE
September 16, 2005

Letters to the Editor,
The Washington Times,
September 16, 2005, p. A20

Success in Armenia

I have a few reflections on Michael Mainville's article “Armenia Angst” (World, Wednesday).

The continuously high level of U.S. assistance to Armenia, which started after its independence in 1991, can be credited to the success of economic, democratic, and legal reforms implemented in Armenia. Armenia is both a case study and a success story in economic reform according to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and Armenia 's inclusion in the Millennium Challenge Account last year is a testimony of Armenia 's progress according to that program's criteria of ruling justly, promoting economic freedom, and investing in people.

Likewise, a Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal 2004 study ranks Armenia very highly in economic freedom among transitional economies. The liberal economic environment created by the government reforms succeeded in generating a double-digit growth for the past 5 years.

These reforms and the commitment of Armenia's friends to helping it succeed promote more economic growth and further reduce poverty, with spillover effects for social and democratic progress and for eliminating corruption. The best testimony for Armenians' confidence in their future is also the fact that Armenia started recording net immigration in 2004.

As a country in transition, Armenia has had more than its share of challenges. However, the Armenian leadership has recently demonstrated once more both the will and desire to promote democracy further and to address the country's problems. At this stage, this means conducting a Constitutional referendum in November to strengthen the checks and balances and provide better self-government for Armenia 's local communities.

Tatoul Markarian
Ambassador of Armenia to the United States
Washington , DC