Opinion - News Analysis   

Asian Development Bank official clarifies

Ann Quon, Principal Director, Department of External Relations, Asian Development Bank, writes:

We refer to your report — India-China border peaceful: Gen. Singh, by P.S. Suryanarayana, (June 25) — which makes mention of “the Asian Development Bank’s new lending programme for India that was expected to cover a project in Arunachal Pradesh,” and wish to clarify as follows:

1. No new ‘lending’ programme for India was discussed at the ADB Board of Directors’ meeting on 15 June 2009. What was in fact discussed at the meeting was ADB’s Country Strategy for India for 2009-2012, where ADB’s Board of Directors gave broad support for the general development thrust and direction of the India Country Strategy. This was found to be in line with India’s development priorities as set out in its 11th Five Year Plan, and is congruent with ADB’s long-term Strategy 2020 to reduce poverty in the Asia-Pacific region.

2. The Board’s broad support of the India Country Strategy does not imply approval of any of the projects and programs covered under the strategy. As such, there was no discussion on specific projects and programs in relation to the India Country Strategy. All individual projects and programs will require separate approval on a case by case basis by ADB’s Board of Directors.

3. On ADB’s policy with regard to operations in ‘disputed’ areas, we wish to stress that the ADB Charter mandates that ADB shall not interfere in the political affairs of any member and that only economic considerations shall be relevant to its decision. ADB will issue suitable guidelines for its staff on dealing with proposed activities in disputed areas.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Monsoon prospects
A call for global action
Searching for water on the Moon
A writer as the conscience of Africa
Where a toxic site also provides livelihood
Asian Development Bank official clarifies
Importance of a woman’s name
Rebuilding of Buddha statue begins in Bamiyan
Corrections and clarifications
Unfortunate
Burqa row
Missing ‘E’s
Correcting history

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu