---------------------------------------------------------- Live and work in the USA legally: Register for the GREEN CARD LOTTERY! Visit http://www.us-immigration.org -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Indonesia Daily News Online http://www.indo-news.com/ Free Email @KotakPos.com visit: http://my.kotakpos.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------- Dow Jones Newswires, September 12, 2000 World Bank Denies Withholding Indonesia Loans Over W Timor JAKARTA --The World Bank denied Tuesday it plans to withhold loans from Indonesia if the country doesn't make greater efforts to stop the violence in West Timor. Mark Baird, the bank's chief representative in Indonesia, confirmed World Bank President James Wolfensohn has sent a letter to Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid urging a quick solution to the violence, which left three U.N. workers dead last week. But Baird added there was no question of pulling financial assistance from the country, contrary to a Washington Post report Tuesday that said continued financial support to the Southeast Asian nation may be linked to the success of efforts to quell pro-Indonesian militia groups in West Timor. "There is no mention in Wolfensohn's letter of loans being withheld from Indonesia," Baird told Dow Jones Newswires. Letter Mentions W Timor Violence In his letter, Wolfensohnn did stress, however, that increased efforts to stop the violence would help Indonesia when it meets with major donor organizations, including the World Bank, in Tokyo in October to negotiate over a new round of loans for the embattled economy. "I look forward to being able to report to donors at next month's Consultative Group meeting that the violence has ended, that the United Nations has been able to resume its humanitarian activities, and that those who want to return home to East Timor are now being allowed to do so in safety," Wolfensohn told Wahid in the letter. The killing of U.N. relief workers in West Timor last week by pro-Indonesian militia is the latest blow to Indonesia's international standing. Timor island, the eastern half of which won independence from Indonesia in a referendum last year, has been racked by sectarian violence in the past year. Other parts of the sprawling archipelago have also exploded in violence, often due to inter-community rivalry. Efforts to reduce the violence would help Indonesia to attract more foreign loans to finance a budget deficit set to total around 4% of gross domestic product this year, Baird said. The nation's public debt already totals about $135 billion, with some $70 billion of this coming from foreign lenders. "Concrete action on the West Timor problem would facilitate a positive outcome at the upcoming Consultative Group meeting," Baird said. Indonesian stocks fell 2.5% Tuesday, with traders citing concerns the World Bank might hold back loans. The rupiah also fell through its support at IDR8,500 to the dollar after trading above that level for most of the day. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 18 Sep 2000 jam 05:41:48 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
