On 20 February 2007, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Annette Dixon met with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Kurmanbek Bakiev.  They discussed the priorities of the Bank’s program for the next four years as part of the Joint Country Support Strategy being prepared with other major donors.  The parties discussed plans for the next Consultative Group meeting with donors to be held in Bishkek in the summer this year. 

Touching upon the HIPC issue, both Annette Dixon and World Bank Country Manager in the Kyrgyz Republic Roger Robinson assured the Government of the Bank’s support of the Country Development Strategy irrespective of the outcome of the Government’s decision on this debt relief initiative.  “The Bank will support the Government’s efforts to secure rapid economic and social development regardless of the outcome of the Kyrgyz Republic’s sovereign decision on whether to seek external debt relief under the HIPC initiative” – Dixon said