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world news Diabierna 4 September 2020

U.S. official warns El Salvador's president that aid at risk

By JOSHUA GOODMAN really concerned that it’s go-
Associated Press ing to be the end of the world
MIAMI (AP) — A senior here.”
U.S. official quietly told El Jacob Wood, an MCC
Salvador’s government that spokesman, said the agency’s
anti-poverty assistance from model is built around ac-
Washington is at risk over countability to make sure the
President Nayib Bukele’s projects are a good invest-
defiance of his country’s su- ment for American taxpayers.
preme court and congress, “El Salvador is no exception
The Associated Press has to this and MCC is proud of
learned. our partnership,” he said.
The rare rebuke from the Bukele has come under
Trump administration — one mounting criticism from
of Bukele’s biggest boosters both Democrats and some
— came in a May 29 letter to Republicans in Congress that
an aide of the president from he is exceeding his authority
Thomas Kelly, acting vice in a country with tradition-
president of the Millennium ally weak institutions.
Challenge Corporation, an In February, Bukele sent
independent U.S. foreign aid heavily armed soldiers to sur-
agency that has committed round the congress to pres-
nearly $300 million in grants sure lawmakers into approv-
to the small Central Ameri- ing a loan to fund the fight
can country. against gangs. Then in April,
With Congress considering In this Feb. 18, 2020 file photo, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele delivers his speech to the Bukele defied El Salvador’s
whether to extend a Sept. 9 newly inducted members of the armed forces at Gerardo Barrios square in front of the National supreme court, ignoring sev-
deadline for spending the Palace in San Salvador, El Salvador. eral rulings striking down
U.S. aid, the criticism reflects Associated Press strict measures that led to the
growing concerns among disclose a private correspon- the U.S. had been spent, El indicators, among 28 devel- detention in crowded quar-
mainly Democratic lawmak- dence. Salvador’s government says. oping countries with similar antine centers of hundreds
ers that Bukele is taking his Bukele’s press office did not El Salvador is expected to income levels. of people accused of breaking
country down an authoritar- comment in response to a list seek new U.S. funding once “MCC grants are supposed the coronavirus lockdown
ian path, such as his use of of questions about the letter. the current assistance expires. to be a reward for govern- rules.
troops to intimidate legisla- The MCC in 2014 signed a But Democratic Party staffers ments that meet objective “Five people aren’t going to
tors and his rejection of high compact with El Salvador to in Congress say there is no criteria like battling corrup- decide the death of hundreds
court ruling against tough provide up to $277 million to support for it becoming the tion and respect for the rule of thousands of Salvadorans,”
pandemic restrictions. finance regulatory reforms, first partner country to de- of law,” Rieser said. Bukele said on Twitter about
“Recent actions by the Gov- education and infrastruc- velop a third compact with “Senator Leahy believes that the court’s judges. “It doesn’t
ernment of El Salvador have ture improvements, with the the MCC, which was estab- if we ignore conduct like matter how much ink and
raised questions about the goal of promoting economic lished by Congress in 2004 as President Bukele’s that vio- seals they have.”
government’s commitment growth and private invest- an agency that reports to the late those criteria it under- The Trump administration
to MCC’s eligibility criteria, ment in the country. El Sal- State Department but oper- mines the MCC’s credibil- has publicly stood strong-
in particular the Executive vador agreed to allocate an ates independently. ity.” ly with Bukele amid those
Branch’s interactions with additional $88 million for Tim Rieser, an aide to Sen. Michael Kozak, acting assis- standoffs, saying he has pro-
the other branches of gov- those efforts. It is one of the Patrick Leahy of Vermont, tant secretary of state for the moted dialogue and prais-
ernment,” Kelly’s letter said. MCC’s largest commitments the ranking Democrat on the Western Hemisphere, said ing him for adhering to an
“Further concerning inci- anywhere in the world and Senate Appropriations Com- this week that he was confi- earlier supreme court ruling
dents relating to these criteria followed an earlier $461 mil- mittee, said the MCC was dent Congress would extend to withdraw troops from the
could risk negative conse- lion U.S. aid package. established with the goal of the compact for El Salvador congress.
quences for our partnership, It’s not clear how El Salva- raising the standard for for- and other countries where President Donald Trump has
something we wish to avoid.” dor addressed Kelly’s private eign assistance. implementation has been said on Twitter that the Sal-
Kelly added that assistance concerns, but there’s no sign To be eligible, a country must slowed by the pandemic. vadoran leader has worked
from the MCC is contingent the MCC is looking to cut first pass an MCC “score- “The extension is tied up well with the U.S. on immi-
on “strict adherence to the off Bukele’s government, card” that rates performance with the COVID relief bill, gration. Bukele has expressed
rule of law and the protection which has requested a 6- to on 20 categories. In the 2020 but we remain engaged,” Ko- support for Trump’s tough
of fundamental freedoms.” 12-month no-cost extension scorecard, zak told reporters. policies on migrants by sign-
A copy of the letter was pro- to carry out projects that have El Salvador ranked in the top “We understand there is sup- ing an agreement that would
vided to AP by a U.S. con- been delayed by the corona- quarter for political rights port to find a way forward allow the U.S. to send asylum
gressional staffer on the virus pandemic. As of July 30, and top half for civil liber- and we’ll keep working it, so seekers from other countries
condition of anonymity to 74% of the funds donated by ties, both third-party policy that’s why I don’t think we’re to El Salvador.q

France calls on U.S. to withdraw sanctions on world court

PARIS (AP) — France called on the ed States and its allies. The sanctions gitimate attempts to subject Ameri- Service, called the U.S. sanctions
United States on Thursday to with- include a freeze on assets held in the cans to its jurisdiction.” “unacceptable” and “unprecedented.”
draw sanctions levelled on top of- U.S. or subject to U.S. law and target French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves “The International Criminal Court
ficials of the International Criminal prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and the Le Drian said the sanctions are “a (ICC) plays an essential role in de-
Court, saying they are a “grave attack” court’s head of jurisdiction, Phakiso grave attack against the court … and livering justice to the victims of some
on the court and put into question Mochochoko. beyond that a questioning of multi- of world’s most horrific crimes. Its
the independence of justice. The court is, notably, investigating al- lateralism and the independence independence and impartiality are
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pom- legations of torture and other crimes of the judiciary. France calls on the crucial characteristics of the Court’s
peo announced sanctions Wednesday by Americans in Afghanistan. United States to withdraw the an- work, which are fundamental for the
against the chief prosecutor of the The United States has never been nounced measures.” legitimacy of its judgements,” Borrell
court, based in The Hague, and a top party to the court, and Pompeo said Josep Borrell, vice president of the said in a statement urging the U.S. to
aide, for investigations into the Unit- the U.S. would not tolerate “its ille- European Union’s External Action reverse course.q