Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil warned that danger is approaching the “structure of the state” as the parliamentary paralysis and failure to stipulate loans of the World Bank has pushed the latter to issue a warning that it would exclude Lebanon from its aid list, As Safir daily reported on Wednesday.
“Frankly, I will be compelled in the end to close down the finance ministry and close its iron gate if we did not rectify the deteriorating conditions and stop the attrition. I advise all political forces to take my words seriously,” said Khalil.
“We have reached the red line. Each one of us must do everything in his capability to stop that, which requires primarily holding an urgent legislative session,” he added.
Lebanon has been in a state of government paralysis since the term of President Michel Suleiman ened in May 2014, as conflicts between rival political camps have thwarted all attempts to elect a successor.
“Lebanon will actually lose three loans worth $700 million. A loan worth $474 million alone to drag water from the al-Awali river to the capital and Mount Lebanon is one of the most important ones that Lebanon will lose if the parliament fails to stipulate before the end of December,” he added.
He cautioned that the World Bank will block loan agreements for Lebanon for two years if the loans that were already granted to the country were not implemented.
The minister stressed: “Lebanon has a valuable opportunity now to demand funding for vital projects related to the infrastructure that has taken a toll as the result of the influx of Syrian refugees, mainly that the World Bank is currently in the process of of setting its agenda for the coming years.
“The parliament must ratify the current loan agreements in preparation for use in their allocated areas, especially that there are 160 countries financed by the World Bank and will be given preference instead of Lebanon.”
He warned that in light of the parliamentary paralysis, the Ministry will not be able to pay the salaries of civil servants without a law passed by parliament.
On Tuesday, Speaker Nabih Berri urged the members of parliament to meet and approve the state budget after the World Bank warnings that it will cut aid to Lebanon.
World Bank Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Farid Belhaj told the Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that “the bank did not issue a warning to Lebanon but a message warning the politicians that the projects will wither if they have not been approved.”
The World Bank stipulates that grants or loans provided to countries for specific development projects must be implemented within a specific time frame, otherwise the funds will be withdrawn and allocated to other countries of need.
Fuente: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/192472-khalil-world-bank-loans-under-...
