US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN409

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000409 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, EUR/PGI, DRL, EB 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID AND MCC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, KMCA, AM 
SUBJECT:  COMPACT PROPOSAL MOVES ALONG -- FROM LOCAL 
CONSULTANTS TO INTERNATIONAL EXPERT 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY 
 
1.  (SBU) The GOAM has informed Post that AVAG 
Solutions, the local consulting firm hired to compile 
Armenia's MCA compact proposal, completed its work and 
presented a draft version of the proposal to the GOAM 
MCA Board of Trustees on March 2.  The Board reportedly 
discussed and approved the document for further vetting 
the same day. 
 
2.  (SBU) The GOAM has hired an international 
consultant, Dr. Eugene McCarthy, to review the 
document, meet with the GOAM MCA Board and donor 
agencies in Armenia from March 15-30, and prepare it 
for formal submission to the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation in early April.  Funding for McCarthy's 
services comes from a World Bank grant to the GOAM for 
this purpose.  The World Bank referred McCarthy to the 
GOAM from what they claim was a list of international 
experts. 
 
3.  (SBU) According to information obtained by Post, 
the current draft proposes approximately USD 130 
million of development projects focusing on rural 
infrastructure projects (irrigation and road 
improvement). 
EVANS