SPAIN: IRAQ DONOR'S MEETING TOKYO

UNCLAS MADRID 003741

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EB/ODF ROLAND DEMARCELLUS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IZ PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: IRAQ DONOR'S MEETING TOKYO

REF: STATE 196084

Econ Counselor met September 27 with Ministry of Economy
Director General for International Finance Ramon Guzman
Zapater to discuss reftel points on the Tokyo Donor's
meeting. Guzman informed us that Spain would be represented
by a representative from the Ministry of Commerce and Trade's
Subdirectorate General for Commercial Policy in the Middle
East and the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo. Guzman said that the
USD 20 million pledge to the IRFFI and the USD 5 million
pledge to the IFC Small Business Facility was approved by the
Council of Ministers September 17 and should be disbursed
prior to the Tokyo meeting. Guzman also mentioned that he
believes the new Socialist government is committed to
fulfilling Spain's entire Iraq pledge, though the security
situation might make delivery of much of the tied aid
challenging.
MANZANARES