Diario Libre points out today that, despite the economic crisis that has led the government to negotiate a standby agreement with the IMF, there have been millions available for military needs. The newspaper says that the Mejia government backed an unprecedented US$235.6 million in loans to equip the Armed Forces, under Major General Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez, and to the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) traffic force that is head by former police chief, Army General Pedro de Jesus Candelier. These loans include one for US$10.3 million, which was backed by the US Eximbank and intended for the military’s purchase of 11 helicopters and 120 vehicles; for new equipment for the military hospital Ramon de Laara and for the purchase of vehicles for the Air Force. The government obtained another US$10.7 billion from the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya of Spain and another for US$37.9 million with International Bank of Miami, also backed by Eximbank. Two credits for US$32.2 million were signed with the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya to equip the metropolitan traffic police. The same bank also lent US$2.1 million to equip the Air Force’s fire-fighting squad. The Navy benefited from three loans: one with BNP Paribas of Belgium for US$20.3 million for its ship-building center in Calderas, Bani and to build four patrol ships; US$22 million with Union Planters to purchase two coast guard ships and build another six; and a US$16-million loan with IAI Israel Aircraft to purchase two speed boats, three ground radars, training and spare parts. The newspaper mentions the two loans with the Deutsche Bank of Spain for the vocational schools of the Armed Forces. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Diario Libre points out today that, despite the economic crisis that has led the government to negotiate a standby agreement with the IMF, there have been millions available for military needs. The newspaper says that the Mejia government backed an unprecedented US$235.6 million in loans to equip the Armed Forces, under Major General Jose Miguel … <\/p>\n