Sofiaecho.com
November 6, 2003

Foreign Minister Solomon Passi told last week’s donor conference in Madrid that the Bulgarian Government was ready to give to Iraq indirect aid worth $1,000,000.

Passi said that Bulgaria would provide to Iraq 315,000 leva for medicines, medical equipment, food and other items, as well as an additional 340,000 leva for clothing, shoes and other materials.

Passi said that Bulgaria was also ready to provide 20 scholarships for the education of Iraqi students in Bulgarian higher education institutions, as well as training programmes for Iraqi police officers in the Police Academy in Sofia.

Passi, however, said that Bulgaria was not ready to cancel Iraq’s debt. “Bulgaria also inherited a huge external debt but started paying it nonetheless,” Passi said. “Every government represents the same country, no matter when or how it accumulated its debts, and this is a principle which must be complied with.”

According to Passi, Iraq is a country rich in natural resources and, without pressure, the Iraqi government should be able to start repaying the external debt in the medium term.

Passi said that Bulgaria was in a unique position because the Iraqi debt was more than $ 1.7 billion, which is about 12 per cent of Bulgaria’s GDP.

He said the Iraqi debt must be restructured and paid back, and must be paid back 100 per cent.

By its participation in the donors’ conference, Bulgaria showed its commitment to the reconstruction of Iraq and the formation of a democratic government, Passi said.

During his visit to Madrid, Passi met US secretary of state Colin Powell and the civilian administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremmer.