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Singapore disputes charge

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: The World Bank Group has said Singapore is in "breach of the formal agreement" between them on the modalities of the prospective annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and related events here. The stage will be set by the chiefs of the Fund and the Bank through briefings here on Friday.

With the Bank taking exception to Singapore's objections regarding certain individual participants, the City-State's Organising Committee on Thursday disputed the "allegation" and pledged to "continue to honour" the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2003.

At the heart of the dispute are the World Bank's views that the civil-society activists, whom it had formally accredited, "should not be excluded from our annual meetings."

The Bank said "these individuals have been cleared by their respective home governments" too. The IMF and the Group "work with these representatives of civil society and value their role." This was so "even when we disagree with what they say."

Security considerations

The IMF and the WBG would, therefore, "continue to urge the Government of Singapore to let [these individuals] participate by assuring expeditious entry procedures, including the issuance of visas."

In its response, Singapore said "it is aware of its obligations under the MoU." However, the MoU "also obliges Singapore to take all necessary measures for the safe passage of all persons in and out of Singapore and for their personal security and the safety of their property and the property of the Organisations and delegations."

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