U.S. will work to rebuild Georgia: Kimmitt
Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:57pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies will work to provide Georgia with humanitarian aid and longer-term reconstruction aid in the wake of its conflict with Russia, a senior U.S. Treasury official said on Tuesday.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt told CNBC Television that Georgia's economy would recover from the Russian invasion and urged Russia to reopen communication and transport links in the war-torn country.
"They're going to come through with a commitment to economic reform," Kimmitt said of Georgia. "We and our international partners are going to do all that we can in the near term on humanitarian assistance and in the long term on reconstruction assistance."
The Treasury has been working with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support reforms made by Georgia and ensure its economic changes continue.
All three institutions said last week they stood ready to help Georgia's government, which they said had acted to tackle corruption, quicken privatization and create a business-friendly environment that boosted capital flows.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWBT00957720080819