Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Khalilova / The Azerbaijan Government will probably refuse the Asian Development Bank (ADB) credit to be allocated for the reconstruction of part of the Masally-Astara motorway as a result of the bank's tough requirements.
The ADB committed the Government to develop a plan on purchasing the lands in the Masally-Astara section until the approval of the project at the Board of Directors. "The commitment requires that the Government take time for talks with the districts' populations in connection with re-settlement. Respectively, the development of a plan will delay the approval and implementation of the project. Therefore, the Government does not agree with the banks requirements,' the same source added.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijan Government is eager to continue talks with the bank in this direction. The consultations led by Abid Sharifov, the Azerbaijani Prime Minister, with the ADB representatives will be held next week.
This year, the board of directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) voiced its intentions to approve a multitranche package worth $500mln under the new project - Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF) and a credit agreement on the project for reconstructing sections of the Highway - the Massali-Astara (a part of the existing project as well), with financing which will be carried out at the expense of the first tranche under MFF.
