(November 30, 2004) Earlier this year, British ministers introduced tough new rules to ensure UK companies wouldn’t pay bribes to win contracts abroad. But now a whole series of allegations is surfacing about UK-backed projects.
Other News Sources
Laos Premier urges ASEAN to support mega-dam project
(November 29, 2004) Laos’ prime minister lobbied Monday for a massive dam in his country, urging Southeast Asian leaders to support the long-delayed project, aimed at alleviating poverty but slammed by critics.
Global guidelines seek to ease trauma of default
(November 29, 2004) Argentina’s debt issues serve as catalyst for change.
Lahmeyer International in court again for bribing Highlands Water project official
(November 29, 2004) Found guilty by the Lesotho High Court of bribing the former chief of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority two years ago, international construction company, Lahmeyer International, has been back in court on another case of bribery.
Russia to write off half of Iraq debt, minister says
(November 29, 2004) Russia will write off half of Iraq’s debt to the country in two stages starting next year, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said. Iraq owes Russia between $700 million to $1 billion and the precise amount is being worked out, he said.
Russia slashes $9 billion from Iraq debt
(November 29, 2004) Russia will slash at least $9.5 billion of Iraq’s debt to Moscow, Interfax news agency reported Monday.
On odious debts, the Paris Club, and reparations
(November 28, 2004) Following our first announcement released March 8, 2003 after the re-activation of our union, we demanded a development plan to help kick-start the Iraqi economy. At that time, our union confirmed that an essential prerequisite for such a plan to succeed was the cancellation of debt and reparation claims against the Iraqi people.
The Paris Club deal is not the end of the haggling over Iraqi debt
(November 27, 2004) Generous or not, the deal owed nothing to the notion that Iraq’s debts were "odious", incurred by a tyrannical government and therefore unworthy of repayment.
Iraq wants more than 80% scrap of debts
(November 27, 2004) Iraqi Minister of Planning Mehdi Hafez said his country is unhappy with the decision of the Paris Club to waive only 80 percent of Iraq’s debts.
Nice try, Paris Club
(November 26, 2004) The leaders of the western world, through their Paris Club, agreed to an act of charity last Saturday: They agreed to forgive 80% of their portion of Iraq’s US$120-billion debt.
Debt audits: contesting the legitimacy of external debt burdens
(November 26, 2004) An international workshop on debt organized by Jubilee South has called for the implementation of a comprehensive, official audit process to assess the legitimacy of external debts owed by countries over-burdened with outstanding loan repayments.
Russia expects ‘understanding’ from Paris Club after cancelling Iraq debt
(November 26, 2004) After supporting the Paris Club decision to write off 80 per cent of Iraq’s debt, Russia expects to come to a "mutual understanding" concerning its debt to the Paris Club.
Electricité de France accused of violating OECD guidelines in Nam Theun 2 dam project in Laos
(November 25, 2004) MEDIA RELEASE Electricité de France (EdF) could come under scrutiny in France for its role in the controversial Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in Lao PDR.
EU watchdog exposes international aid fraud
(November 26, 2004) The 25-nation bloc is one of the world’s largest aid donors and in its annual report, published on Friday, OLAF said the EU’s humanitarian and development aid to third countries was a victim of “complex and well-organised” financial fraud.
Russia will write off 90 percent of Iraq debt: Putin
(November 25, 2004) Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow had committed itself to writing off 90 percent of Iraq’s debts, more than the 80 percent of forgiveness agreed by the Paris Club of sovereign debtors.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 