(September 14, 2004) The Paris Club of creditor nations did not arrive at a consensus on the exact amount of Iraq’s debt to be canceled, but agreed in principle to an individual treatment of the debt cut, the French Foreign Ministry announced this week. There is "consensus on the fact that Iraq’s debt is unbearable and that Iraq should benefit from the Evian approach decided at [the] G8 summit in 2003," said Foreign Ministry spokesman, Herve Ladsous. Such an approach, he said, permits the possibility of allowing an individual treatment of the debt cut to non-HIPC countries (Countries that are not technically Heavily Indebted Poor Countries).
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U.S. wants to cancel poorest nations’ debt
(September 14, 2004) Bush administration officials are advancing a plan to cancel billions of dollars in debt owed by some of the world’s poorest countries, a move which institutions like the World Bank fear could leave them strapped for cash.
Poor countries debt relief ‘failing’
(September 13, 2004) International efforts to lighten the debt burden on the world’s poorest countries are failing to provide the expected level of relief, according to a new report.
Acres has not paid a cent of its fine for corruption
(September 12, 2004) Canadian company Acres International has failed to pay a single cent of the R15 million it was fined a year ago by a Lesotho court for corruption.
Bombers? Or food?
(September 12, 2004) A new book explains how the West could easily save the Third World.
PI Submission to World Bank Nam Theun 2 Workshop
(September 10, 2004) Based on Probe International’s review of all available information, World Bank and Asian Development Bank funding for the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project would constitute foreign aid abuse.
Beyond Saddam
(September 10, 2004) Iraq is crippled by debt. The country’s oil wealth was squandered by Saddam’s regime on arms and personal enrichment; today it is looted to pay for occupation. Such odious debt must be cancelled.
The resource curse
(September 10, 2004) As the United States, the United Nations, and the Iraqi Governing Council struggle to determine what form Iraq’s next government should take, there is one question that, more than any other, may prove critical to the country’s future: how to handle its vast oil wealth.
Contribution to the final report on the Sept. 7 consultation in Paris (France): Nam Theun 2 dam
(September 9, 2004) Invited by the World Bank to attend a day of consultation on the Nam Theun 2 dam project, the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR) elegation came away dissatisfied with the answers they were given.
Iraqi president, starting Europe tour, optimistic about election
(September 9, 2004) Iraqi President Ghazi Al-Yawar began a European tour Wednesday in Germany voicing optimism that elections in his country would go ahead by the end of January as scheduled and appealing for more help with debt relief.
Iraq calls for big debt write-off in Berlin talks
(September 9, 2004) Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer renewed calls for a big write-off of his country’s massive foreign debt at talks Thursday with German leaders in Berlin.
IMF sees Iraq economic program before end-2004
(September 9, 2004) The International Monetary Fund says Iraq could have an IMF-backed economic program with financing in place by the end of 2004 following "good progress" made in talks last week in Paris.
Chinese officials embezzling billions in state assets, fleeing the country
(September 9, 2004) According to the latest official count, some 4,000 senior Chinese officials and managers of state-owned businesses have fled abroad over the past two decades with as much as $50 billion dollars in embezzled money.
Equatorial Guinea’s oil boom leaves poor behind
(September 8, 2004) The subject of corruption is taboo in Equatorial Guinea’s tightly-controlled media, but some of the government’s publicised spending choices are enough to set tongues wagging.
Iraq debt relief talks deadlocked
(September 9, 2004) The United States’ campaign for a rapid write-off of almost all of Iraq’s foreign debt is going nowhere for now, sources say.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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