Dear Active Bankwatcher,

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering giving a loan to the government of Macedonia to build the western section of a bypass around the Macedonian capital, Skopje. However, this road will seriously affect the lives of people living along the planned route, and no proper alternatives to the government's route, nicknamed the ?Road of Death? by opponents, were respected.

The western arm of the highway would be built only 20 metres from a drinking water reservoir, without adequate guarantees that the water will not be contaminated. Prime agricultural land (some residents' only source of income) will be taken out of operation, even though the road could be built on nearby state-owned land. Also, an overpass will be built very near two orthodox churches and a local cemetery, threatening to disrupt religious services, and an elementary school would be located less than 200 metres from the road, raising concerns about asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

An alternative route proposed by villagers was rejected without proper study. The EBRD must not endorse the Macedonian government's refusal to take into account options that could have less impact on local residents and their immediate environment.

You can help by sending the letter below to the EBRD's Transport Director Riccardo Puliti <pulitir@ebrd.com>, urging him to reconsider the investment in the current version of the Skopje Bypass project.

To get more information on the environmental and social drawbacks of the Skopje Bypass, visit our website at: http://www.bankwatch.org/issues/transport/mainbypass.html. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your help on this issue.

Yours sincerely,
the Bankwatch team