U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has requested a fund of nearly $770 million to boost political and other reforms in Arab countries undergoing pro-democracy revolutions.
The new fund is part of $51.6 billion requested for the State Department and US Agency for International Development in 2013, which amounts to around 1.4 per cent of the government’s entire budget, the State Department said.
The department said it requested yesterday “$770 million for a new Middle East and North Africa Incentive Fund to respond strategically to the historical changes taking place across the region.”
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US officials said all but $70 million is new money.
“The fund will incentivise long—term economic, political and trade reforms — key pillars of stability — by supporting governments that demonstrate a commitment to undergo meaningful change and empower their people,” it said.
US officials told reporters on condition of anonymity that the funds could be used for countries such as Syria, Yemen, Tunisia and Morocco, and at this point it was unclear how the money would be allocated.
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In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad is accused of resorting to violence to stay in power. In Yemen and Tunisia, transitions are under way with the exits of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In Morocco, King Mohammed VI has introduced constitutional reforms.
The new fund will be in addition to existing bilateral assistance between the United States and individual Arab countries, officials said.
The State Department said the United States re-allocated around USD 500 million in existing funds to help transitions in 2011.
The State Department also pointed out that the Obama budget retained USD 1.3 billion in military assistance for Egypt, even though the administration has warned such aid will be reviewed in the current year amid a dispute with Cairo over a crackdown on US-funded pro-democracy groups.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the warning for 2012 remained in place, noting that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to certify first whether Egypt is making progress toward democracy.