Beirut political crisis could endanger aid pledges
AFP, February, 2007
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NICOSIA (AFP) — Lebanon's finance minister has warned that ongoing political deadlock could endanger a government-proposed economic reform plan and jeopardize billions of dollars of aid pledged by international donors.
"The assistance of the international community is related to the programme of reforms," Jihad Azur told the Nicosia-based Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) industry newsletter in an interview to be published Monday.
"If the political situation will prevent any reforms, then there might be a risk of not receiving these pledges."
Azur said the months-long standoff between the Shiite fundamentalist Hezbollah-led opposition and the Western-backed government had not deterred donors last month in Paris, where they pledged 7.6 billion dollars for Lebanon.
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But if crisis stalls reform plans -- including a value-added tax hike and privatization of certain sectors -- some donors may not deliver the cash they pledged last month, he said ...
