The Greek Foreign Ministry's Hellenic Aid agency and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed an agreement on Monday aimed at promoting development programs in the Balkans and the Black Sea region.

After signing the agreement, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and USAID Deputy Inspector General Woody Meford praised the agreement as a new milestone between the two countries.

They said that it opens the way for the joint funding and implementation of programs aimed at meeting the Millennium Goals as redefined during the last September Summit in New York.

"I believe that we can proceed with specific programs that we will jointly fund developing countries and the Balkans," Stylianidis told reporters.

He said those programs would effectively promote implementation of the Millennium Goals and Greece would stand to gain expertise, due to the US' extensive experience in development cooperation.

The agreement also creates positive relations necessary for fighting poverty, according to Stylianidis.

Referring to the Balkans, the deputy minister said that Greece can play an important role in helping re-build infrastructure and establish proper governance, adding that USAID's contribution will prove valuable to that end.

Source: Xinhua