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Russia criticizes World Bank of playing "geo-economic games"

"We have to state with regret that six Russian projects have been ‘stalled’ in World Bank structures," Russian Foreign Ministry said

MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Attempts of the World Bank to "play geo-economic games" and put political tasks above economic ones may result in a growing interest of the world community to alternative economic institutions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"We have to state with regret that six Russian projects have been ‘stalled’ in World Bank structures," it said, drawing attention to the fact that two of them were purely humanitarian projects for children and disabled people.

"Their theme is fully in line with the World Bank tasks to achieve the Millennium Development Goals," the ministry added.

The ministry cited WB articles of agreement as saying "The Bank and its officers shall not interfere in the political affairs of any member, nor shall they be influenced in their decisions by the political character of the member of members concerned Only economic considerations shall be relevant to their decisions… "

Among the alternative institutions it cited the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank among others.