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afrol.com, 7 October - A donors consultation meeting on Congo Brazzaville took place in Paris on October 5 and 6, at the World Bank's Paris office. World Bank officials stated that Congo had achieved much last year "despite little support from the international community". The meeting was attended by a group of donors and a Government delegation headed by the Minister of Finance and Budget, H. E. Mathias Dzon. The World Bank delegation was headed by Mr. Emmanuel Mbi, Country Director for South Central Africa and the Great lakes countries. "The Republic of Congo's efforts to face the quadruple challenges of consolidating its homegrown peace process, laying a solid foundation for democratization of political life, physically reconstructing the country, and improving economic management including increased transparency and governance in public finance and resource management, merit support from the international community. Despite little support from the international community over the last year, Congo has achieved much. Congo's commitment to reform in a difficult context is a source of encouragement and the international community should heed its appeal for significant support" said Emmanuel Mbi, Country-Director for Congo at the World Bank, who chaired the meeting. Following introductory statements and presentation of the Government's Interim Post Conflict Reconstruction Program and Government plans for return to democratic institutions in 2001, by the Minister of Finance and Budget, donors made presentations on their analysis and assessment of the situation in Congo Brazzaville. Donors noted with satisfaction positive evolution of the political and economic situation in Congo Brazzaville, since the cessation of hostilities. Donors requested additional information on the timetable and modalities of the democratization process, and expressed strong support for the ongoing peace and national reconciliation process, and for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. The participants emphasized the need to keep up the momentum for peace and a fully inclusive national reconciliation process, as a prerequisite for higher and sustained growth, employment generation, and widespread poverty reduction. Donors noted the far reaching nature of the economic reforms envisaged under a program in which Congo is requesting support under the IMF's Emergency post-conflict assistance policy. The envisaged reforms are strong enough to prepare a medium term program. They expressed strong support for the proposed program and urged speedy approval by the IMF's board of directors later this month. Donors indicated specific contributions envisaged in various areas including budget support, investment support in transport, infrastructure, demobilization/ employment generation activities, health, education, as well as institutional support and local capacity building. The donors' consultation meeting noted the heavy burden imposed on Congo Brazzaville by its debt, and encouraged the Government to begin to stabilize and clear its arrears as envisaged under the Emergency Post-Conflict Program with the IMF, and agreed to enhance their collaboration to help Congo work quickly towards the preparation beginning in about six months of a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP) and position Congo for debt reduction under the HIPC initiative. "Congo is strongly committed to staying the course in terms of the pursuit of peace and inclusive dialogue for national reconciliation, good economic and transparent financial management and structural reforms, as well as governance measures needed for accelerated growth and poverty reduction" said H. E. Mathias Dzon, the Minister of Finance and Budget. The Congolese delegation was headed by H.E. Mathias Dzon, Minister of Finance and Budget who co-chaired the meeting together with Mr. William Paton, the UN Resident Coordinator in Congo (Brazzaville). The meeting included representatives from Belgium, the European Union, France, Italy, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the USA. In addition to The World Bank, international organizations attending were: African Development Bank (AfDB), Central Bank of Central African States (BEAC), European Commission, International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Development Program, United Nations Children's Fund, and World Health Organization.
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