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