(07-01-2002) US's O'Neill sets out list of US aid criteria - Forbes

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US's O'Neill sets out list of US aid criteria
Reuters, 07.01.02, 10:00 AM ET


UNITED NATIONS, July 1 (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on Monday laid out a laundry list of measures of success for countries to meet to qualify for the Bush administration's new international aid initiative.

"These measures are still in development, and we are reaching out to the world community for help in finalizing the criteria. We will keep the criteria few, identifying indicators that gauge the leadership and commitment of each nation," O'Neill said in prepared remarks to be delivered to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

The measures are part of the Bush administration's "Millennium Challenge Account" initiative, which is aimed at targeting aid support for poor countries with well-functioning governments and markets that also invest in their people.

Specifically, O'Neill said the measures will track civil liberties, political rights, enforceability of contracts, judicial independence, corruption, transparency and government effectiveness.

Measures for public investment will include primary school completion rates and spending on health care, he said, while a country's' "economic freedom" will be judged on its international credit rating, inflation, openness to trade and quality of regulatory policies.

O'Neill, who toured Africa in May with rock star Bono, again said some steps could be taken soon to improve access to clean water and primary education there.

"The perfect tomorrow should not be the enemy of a better today," he said.

Copyright 2002, Reuters News Service
 
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