Financial aid: extension to Tajikistan of the exceptional assistance for Armenia and Georgia

PURPOSE : To provide exceptional financial asssistance to Tajikistan. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 2000/244/EC amending Decision 97/787/EC providing exceptional financial assistance for Armenia and Georgia in order to extend it to Tajikistan. CONTENT : The Council adopted a modification to the Decision 97/787/EC providing exceptional financial assistance for Armenia and Georgia in order to extend it to Tajikistan. Council Decision 97/787/EC provides for financial assistance from the Community in the form of a mix of long-term loan and straight grants. When adopting that decision the Council agreed to consider a similar operation for Tajikistan once circumstances allowed. In adopting the present decision the Council has noted that Tajikistan is undertaking fundamental economic and political reforms. In implementing this decision, the Commission wil take due account of progress made in the inter-Tajik peace process, and, in particular, in the holding of elections under acceptable conditions. The total loan component of the assistance amounts to EUR 245 million with a maximum maturity of 15 years and a grace period of 10 years. The grant component consists of an amount of up to EUR 130 million during 1997-2004 period with a maximum of EUR 24 million annually. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 20.03.2000.�