U.S. TO RELEASE 33 MILLION DOLLARS TO MOLDOVA

The U.S. will release 33 million dollars to Moldova for implementation of economic and social development programmes, including six million dollars as humanitarian assistance, Thomas Adams, coordinator of the U.S. assistance for Europe and Eurasia of the Department of State, told a news conference on Friday evening.

"The unreimbursable financing will be allocated to support democracy, social and economic reforms, consolidation of security and humanitarian assistance," Adams noted.

The U.S. official, who arrived in Chisinau to attend the works of the Moldovan-American committee for economic and investment cooperation, said that the bureau he administrates is drafting a project in this regard and it will present the document to the U.S. Congress for approval in the near future.

According to Adams, the U.S. supports in continuation of efforts of the Chisinau government to reduce unemployment rate, poverty, and to promote market reforms. Also, the U.S. will provide technical assistance against trafficking in human beings and corruption.

In turn, Economics and Trade Minister Valeriu Lazar said that the U.S. is the key foreign partner regarding economic development of Moldova. According to Lazar, the U.S. has significantly increased the volume of financial and technical assistance for Moldovan economy.

The U.S. has initially supported the land privatisation, and started financing social programmes later. The Agribusiness Development Project is one of the largest programmes implemented with the U.S. assistance. It has a budget of almost 20 million dollars, being implemented by CNFA-Moldova.