The World Bank gave $80 million to the government of the Republic of Armenia to economically and socially develop local communities. By the way, take into account that it is a loan. So, they don’t present us that money, they give it to us on credit. Judging from the official statement, that round sum is given in the framework of the Third Additional Financing for the Social Investment Fund III (ASIF III) Project, from which one can conclude that they have given such a sum twice already. Perhaps the World Bank doesn’t particularly care for that, but we, citizens, whose children and grandchildren will pay that debt, must care which communities have economically and socially developed thanks to those loans. Perhaps the aid is just technical – international specialists come and explain to our villagers how to milk a cow, get paid for that, let’s say $10 thousand, and return to their countries. However, it seems we have local specialists for that job too, the Prime Minister, to begin with. Or perhaps they spend that money on building rural roads, then it rains and snows and that road is in the same bad condition again. Anyway, the creditor, the bank, must not be particularly concerned about the fate of its money, because it will get its money back on time and with interest – it is the problem of the debtor.
Who should supervise how, for what the government takes the loan and on what it is spent? Certainly, the National Assembly. If the agreement signed by the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank is submitted to the National Assembly within the next three months, it is very probable that a heated debate will start on it and MPs will make inspirational and populist speeches at the top of their lungs. However, most probably that bill will be submitted to the next composition of the National Assembly and in that instance, there will be no problem – people, who have achieved their goals, will be sitting in the Session Hall. I am convinced that in the pre-election period they will talk much about the loans taken from the international organizations and about using those inefficiently. Credulous voter may be influenced by those speeches and shout out, “Oh my god, what are they doing! Let me vote for these honest guys, they will not waste money.” However, we, ordinary citizens, who don’t believe anyone, are interested in more particular issues. Let the respectful government show a village, where emigration was stopped thanks to a repaired gas pipe, water pipe or a renovated school for the World Bank money.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
