Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASMARA45
2010-02-22 12:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
$76 MILLION OF WORLD BANK MONEY TO BE THROWN AWAY?
how-toVZCZCXRO9827 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0045 0531221 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221221Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0717 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000045
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
GEORGIANNA PLATT FOR USAID
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2020
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: $76 MILLION OF WORLD BANK MONEY TO BE THROWN AWAY?
REF: 09 ASMARA 0017
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000045
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
GEORGIANNA PLATT FOR USAID
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2020
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: $76 MILLION OF WORLD BANK MONEY TO BE THROWN AWAY?
REF: 09 ASMARA 0017
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) The World Bank regional director responsible for the
Horn of Africa postponed a scheduled mid-February meeting in
Asmara to discuss whether or not Eritrea plans to accept $76
million in grant funding, according to World Bank acting
country director Samuel Eyasu (protect). The minister of
finance has been out of the country for more than a year,
with no one with any real authority at the helm, he said.
Hoping to speak to the Eritrean government's (GSE) true
decision makers, the regional director plans to return
mid-to-late March to meet with ruling PFDJ political leader
Yemane Gebreab and Presidential Office Director Yemane
Ghebremeskel. He received assurances from both offices that
they will meet with him. Eritrea's World Bank office, down
to eight employees, has not had a designated country
directory since March 2009, and has not funded a project in
Eritrea since 2005.
2. (C) Because World Bank considers Eritrea a highly indebted
poor country (HIPC) without the capacity to repay a loan, the
funding is offered as a grant, Samuel said. World Bank
allocated $65 million in regular and $11 million in emergency
grant funding for Eritrea during the three-year development
cycle ending June 2011. In June 2008, projects totaling $30
million were approved by the World Bank board, but were
rejected by GSE (reftel). All HIPC countries receiving
grants must follow a one-year International Monetary Fund
(IMF) program. The program stipulates conditions such as
freeing economic markets (including fuel) and foreign
exchange rates, which Eritrea is thus far unwilling to accept.
3. (C) Though it is not unusual for a HIPC country to balk
initially at IMF conditions, Eritrea is the only country in
the world still unwilling to sign on to the IMF program,
Samuel said. The World Bank regional director hopes to get a
final answer from Eritrea on his upcoming visit, but World
Bank does not anticipate a change of heart. The result of
the meeting "will determine the future of this office,"
Samuel said. If Eritrea does not accept the IMF conditions,
$76 million in funding will be allocated to another country.
The only way the office would stay open is if World Bank is
allowed to administer trust funds from countries like Norway
and Japan, which do not impose conditions, Samuel said.
Tabler-Stone
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
GEORGIANNA PLATT FOR USAID
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2020
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: $76 MILLION OF WORLD BANK MONEY TO BE THROWN AWAY?
REF: 09 ASMARA 0017
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) The World Bank regional director responsible for the
Horn of Africa postponed a scheduled mid-February meeting in
Asmara to discuss whether or not Eritrea plans to accept $76
million in grant funding, according to World Bank acting
country director Samuel Eyasu (protect). The minister of
finance has been out of the country for more than a year,
with no one with any real authority at the helm, he said.
Hoping to speak to the Eritrean government's (GSE) true
decision makers, the regional director plans to return
mid-to-late March to meet with ruling PFDJ political leader
Yemane Gebreab and Presidential Office Director Yemane
Ghebremeskel. He received assurances from both offices that
they will meet with him. Eritrea's World Bank office, down
to eight employees, has not had a designated country
directory since March 2009, and has not funded a project in
Eritrea since 2005.
2. (C) Because World Bank considers Eritrea a highly indebted
poor country (HIPC) without the capacity to repay a loan, the
funding is offered as a grant, Samuel said. World Bank
allocated $65 million in regular and $11 million in emergency
grant funding for Eritrea during the three-year development
cycle ending June 2011. In June 2008, projects totaling $30
million were approved by the World Bank board, but were
rejected by GSE (reftel). All HIPC countries receiving
grants must follow a one-year International Monetary Fund
(IMF) program. The program stipulates conditions such as
freeing economic markets (including fuel) and foreign
exchange rates, which Eritrea is thus far unwilling to accept.
3. (C) Though it is not unusual for a HIPC country to balk
initially at IMF conditions, Eritrea is the only country in
the world still unwilling to sign on to the IMF program,
Samuel said. The World Bank regional director hopes to get a
final answer from Eritrea on his upcoming visit, but World
Bank does not anticipate a change of heart. The result of
the meeting "will determine the future of this office,"
Samuel said. If Eritrea does not accept the IMF conditions,
$76 million in funding will be allocated to another country.
The only way the office would stay open is if World Bank is
allowed to administer trust funds from countries like Norway
and Japan, which do not impose conditions, Samuel said.
Tabler-Stone