Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CONAKRY1718
2006-11-22 12:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

IMF TEAM CONCLUDES GUINEA IS FARTHER THAN BEFORE FROM A

Tags:  EFIN ECON IMF PGOV GV 
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VZCZCXRO6427
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1718 3261227
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221227Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0248
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 001718 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS
TREASURY FOR USED IMF AND USED WORLD BANK

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON IMF PGOV GV
SUBJECT: IMF TEAM CONCLUDES GUINEA IS FARTHER THAN BEFORE FROM A
FUNDED PROGRAM

REF: CONAKRY 297

UNCLAS CONAKRY 001718

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS
TREASURY FOR USED IMF AND USED WORLD BANK

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON IMF PGOV GV
SUBJECT: IMF TEAM CONCLUDES GUINEA IS FARTHER THAN BEFORE FROM A
FUNDED PROGRAM

REF: CONAKRY 297


1. (SBU) The November 18-21 visit by an IMF technical team ended
with the team leader, Israel de la Piedra, expressing disappointment
that Guinea's microeconomic performance had worsened since the IMF's
last examination in March of this year (reftel). The three-person
team was dispatched to examine Guinea's 2007 budget and budget
process, but lingering political issues loomed. At a November 21
debriefing for the donor community, de la Piedra cited
misappropriations and persistent lack of accountability at the
Central Bank as major flaws. He questioned whether the current
Guinean government had a coherent plan to implement reforms. While
conceding that Guinea's Staff Monitored Program (SMP) had achieved
some successes, de la Peidra was adamant that Guinea must show
concrete examples of reform if it is to return to a funded program.
The Guineans are saying the right things, he concluded, but their
concrete actions are insufficient. Guinea's next IMF team visit is
scheduled for March or April of 2007.


2. (SBU) In a meeting with members of donor community and the
World Bank, IMF team leader Israel de la Piedra offered a frank
assessment of Guinea's macroeconomic performance and proposed 2007
budget. He acknowledged certain positive efforts, particularly in
banking oversight. However, Mr. de la Piedra expressed
disappointment that Guinea's economic situation had deteriorated
since the team's last visit in March of this year.


3. (SBU) De la Peidra praised the financial controls suggested by
the World Bank and, to some extent, followed by the Guinean Budget
Office. He also applauded the new budget review and accountability
process. De la Piedra acknowledged the detrimental effects of the
two general strikes on Guinea's economy but rejected Guinea's
general monetary policy (i.e., the 'managed float') as
"ineffective." He outlined broad, interrelated areas for
macroeconomic improvement.

-- Guinea should request technical assistance and work with those
partners to develop action plans to implement the IMF's
preconditions for return to a funded program.

-- Guinea should commission a full audit of the government's 2006
expenditures and receipts. This would be a regular annual audit.

-- Guinea should establish a better mechanism to determine gasoline
prices while aggressively paying down its arrears to petroleum
companies.

-- Guinea should review and reconcile its receipts, taxes and
concessions in the mining sector.


4. (SBU) Comment. The IMF's assessment is both a denunciation of
Guinea's fiscal and monetary policies and insufficient government
reforms. After the firing of former Prime Minister Diallo, the IMF
waited to see the "identity" of the new administration. During this
visit, the team concluded the numbers, the economic situation, and
overall governance have declined. The IMF's technical team was in
country to examine the 2007 budget, but also focused on governance
issues -- the Central Bank's dueling audits of Futurlec remain
unresolved, there is still no clear plan to resolve Guinea's
petroleum issues, and ministers are too busy jockeying for power to
form an effective team.

MCDONALD