This is in line with EBRD Strategy of Graduation and the graduation of EU 8 countries from EBRD operations can be envisaged. The Czech Government has already given approval that discussions with the Bank's management on the graduation of the Czech Republic from EBRD operations can begin. We believe that October 2007 - which would be the date of the regular consideration of EBRD Strategy for the Czech Republic could be considered an appropriate for this debate. This time-frame should be sufficient for the Bank, the Czech authorities and investors to make the necessary arrangements. We understand that the Bank's management will make their decisions regarding the supervision of its portfolio in the Czech Republic, including decisions concerning the future of the Bank‘s representative office in Prague. The mandate of the EBRD in the Czech Republic is thus approaching its conclusion, and I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Bank for its support during the ups-and-downs of the transition process in my country. Our sincere thanks go to the Management and all those numerous members of staff who for years and sometime in difficult circumstances brought many successful projects to the Czech Republic. We wish the Bank much good fortune for fulfilling its mandate. Thank you for your attention. BIS Review 44/2006  1
The Chinese government was not willing to allow its currency to float freely and the exchange rate against the US dollar was managed. This disabled an important stabiliser and contributed increasing world trade imbalances. Long-term interest rates remained low in spite of substantial monetary policy tightening in the US between 2004 and 2006. International organisations such as the BIS, OECD, IMF and others noted on more than one occasion that growing imbalances in the world economy were a source of concern. But economic policy decisions are the prerogative of national governments. Given the policy pursued by China, there were probably limits to what monetary policy in Western countries could in reality achieve in terms of rolling back these forces. Increased private saving in the US and other deficit countries would probably have required monetary policy tightening sufficient to push up long-term interest rates. Alternatively, a substantial increase in public sector saving would have been necessary. Both alternatives would probably have led to an economic policy driven downturn. It is demanding to pursue such a policy based on the proposition that a crisis might occur in the future. Improved financial regulation would probably have reduced the severity of the financial crisis. Regulation and insurance have similar features: in most cases an annual premium must be paid in the form of slightly lower growth. This occurs because capital is not allowed to flow entirely freely to the highest yielding vehicles. In return, regulation can counter the build-up of financial imbalances.