Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/29/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ/DONORS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-313646

BYLINE=KERRY SHERIDAN

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A group of international donors has agreed to place one-billion dollars into a fund to assist in the rebuilding of Iraq. Kerry Sheridan reports from V-O-A's Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: The money will start flowing into Iraq this year and will be the first installment of the 33-billion dollars that international donor countries pledged to Iraq in October.

Iraqi officials asked for four-billion dollars in aid to fund a series of rebuilding projects, a list they presented to donor nations during a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi.

The assistant to Qatar's foreign minister, Mohamed El-Remihey, says a donor committee made up of 12 nations that have pledged at least 10-million dollars each, will review the rebuilding proposals that Iraqi officials have suggested.

/// EL-REMIHEY ACT IN ARABIC, EST. AND FADE UNDER ///

Mr. El-Remihey says the group may approve some of those projects as early as May, when the next donor meeting is scheduled.

Twelve nations now have seats on the donor committee, including the United States, India, and Spain. Japan, the country that has promised the largest financial contribution to Iraq - close to 500-million dollars - will head the donor committee for a period of one year.

The one-billion dollars in aid will be distributed through a trust fund managed by the United Nations and the World Bank.

Many nations have been hesitant to send money directly into Iraq because of continuing security concerns. (SIGNED)

NEB/KS/ALW/RAE