The ADB was established in 1966 as a regional interstate bank to finance long-term development projects in Asia and the Pacific. Its membership comprises 65 countries. The ADB's annual lending totals about $6-7 billion.
"A few weeks ago American colleagues backed us in the ADB membership issue, including at the level of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Now, during a [recent] meeting in Kyoto, the American delegation suddenly linked the issue of our ADB membership with Russia writing off Iraqi and Afghan debts," a ministry spokesman said Thursday.
Mikhail Kamynin said while speaking on the results of the Russian delegation's participation in the ADB annual board of governors session that Russia intends to join the bank as a donor and not as a country asking for loans or credits.
"We do not regard our membership in the Bank as a 'gift' to us from the leading shareholders," Kamynin said.
He also said Tokyo's delay in making its decision on Russia's membership to the ADB is out of line with the spirit of partner-like relations between the two countries, adding that Japan has been working on Russia's membership application for about two years but "still cannot make up its mind with its answer."
Kamynin said Russia's application was a step indicating Russia's intention to participate in international efforts to contribute to the development of Asia Pacific region states.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier in May that Russia could provide $10 billion debt relief for Iraq without any conditions other than those set by the Paris Club of creditor nations.
Russia is also expected to write off 80-90% of Afghanistan's $10 billion debt under agreements reached as part of the Paris Club of creditor nations in July 2006.
