Letter from Foreign Minister Peres to US Secretary of State Christopher on the Middle East Regional Development Bank

A meeting was held in Washington during the week of 15-21 Janaury 1995 to discuss the creation of a Middle East Regional Development Bank. Held at the invitation of President Clinton and at the level of experts, the meeting was another milestone on the slow road for the establishment of this proposed financial institution. In the following letter Mr. Peres thanked the United States for the special role it played in the meeting. Text:

Dear Warren,

Upon the conclusion of the meeting of experts of financing institutions for economic development in the Middle East which was held in Washington last week, I would like to convey to you and to President Clinton, my deepest gratitude for the strong support of the United States for the creation of a regional development bank in the Middle East.

I am of the firm conviction that apart from the economic advantages of such a bank, the establishment of the first institution dedicated to positively furthering regional development, supported by the vast majority of the regional actors, will signify the true change that is presently engulfing the Middle East and North Africa.

President Clinton's and your full endorsement of this initiative, in the face of a number of reservations, has been most encouraging and I am truly grateful for your ongoing support.

I look forward to meeting you again next month in Washington and to having the opportunity of continuing our discussions on this and other issues of mutual interest.

Sincerely
Shimon Peres