The Americas
Huntingdon College Political Science, Public Affairs, 
and International Studies Programs.
World Affairs Councils of America.
Participants' Notes of the
NATIONAL CONFERENCE, January 2002:

THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAS
(Under construction by Jeremy Lewis, PhD, Montgomery Council; 
notes compiled from various members; additions and corrections welcome;
last revised 23 Jan '02.)
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Francesca Martonffy, 
Program Director
World Affairs Councils 
of America
1800 K Street NW 
Suite 1014
Washington, DC 20006
Cork202.833.4557
Corkncwao@aol.com
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16: 

3:00 - 5:00 Workshops:

Workshop A: School Programs. Sky Foerster leading. Hotel.



Workshop B: Overview of the National Geographic Society. At NGS.



Workshop C: Fun Programs for Councils. (WorldQuest) Jennifer W. Roberts. Hotel.



Workshop D: Councils and the Terrorist Attacks. Jerry Leach leading. Hotel.



Workshop E: Overview of Inter-American Development Bank. J. Ferriter. At IDB.
Notes by: Thomas J. Reckford, President, World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C. 

John Ferriter concentrated on the IDB itself.  He said that the IDB gives concessionary lending rates only to the region's four poorest countries, e.g, Guatemala.  The U.S. has thirty percent of the IDB's voting shares, and, whereas the President of the IDB has always been from Latin America, the executive vice-president has always been American.  The IDB, which never finances all of a project, always has partners, usually governments. 

When asked about the follow-through for projects, Ferriter admitted that the IDB, much like the World Bank, stresses making loans, not checking on how they work out.  Sometimes project team leaders are never heard from again.  There are now some measurable
benchmarks for portfolio assessments, but the measurements are arbitrary.  When asked about IDB loans to the private sector, he said that they are now capped at five percent, but may go to ten percent in time.  For loans to the private sector, the IDB charges business-like risk premiums. 



6:00 Opening Reception.
President George W. Bush, "The Western Hemisphere."
Hall of the Americas of the Organization of American States.
Key points only, by Jeremy Lewis; conversion of transcript in progress.

- Will support Argentine bailout when organized
- Mexican relationship with Fox is central to US.
- Chilean trade bill before Congress should be passed.
- FTAA to be supported for passage in 2005.


 
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