(June 9, 2003) Seven years after operators of a large hydro dam in Vietnam unleashed the first of many damaging floods on downstream Cambodians, affected villagers are still waiting for government authorities to provide mitigation or compensation for damages.
Other News Sources
Plan to develop Mekong subdued by environmental, social concerns
(June 9, 2003) ADB largely to blame for encouraging investment in massive infrastructure projects without taking into account the impact on local communities, or consulting them. – Gráinne Ryder, Probe International
Paris Club head tells Reuters he expects Iraq data by July
(June 9, 2003) Paris Club Chairman, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, told Reuters he expects an audit of Iraq’s debt to be completed in July. However, he said creditors won’t start looking at whether Iraq needs debt reduction or a deferral of payments for some time after that.
Vantage View: Iraq faces a financial struggle to end of decade
(June 7, 2003) Official creditors are likely to offer Iraq debt relief. However, to return to the international capital markets, Iraq will have to show that it is at least willing to pay something towards its properly documented commercial debt.
Iraq debts ultimatum
(June 7, 2003) Banks in Bahrain are looking at how to recover millions of dollars in unpaid loans to Iraq. They want a deal over the debts before even considering investing in rebuilding the country, says a top official.
Ghorfa summit calls for Iraq debt remission
(June 7, 2003) The recent Ghorfa summit of Arab and German business leaders in Berlin, called for remission of Iraqi debts from the Saddam Hussein era. Iraq should be given a chance for a new beginning similar to Germany after World War II, says German business leader.
Officials, VIPs to be arrested
(June 7, 2003) Probe finds 1.9 billion baht embezzled on land slated for a 23-billion-baht wastewater treatment project in Klong Dan, Samut Prakan.
Africa’s odious debts
(July 6, 2003) The war in Iraq might have succeeded in dismantling at least one weapon of mass destruction, the debt bomb.
Pachachi for Arab identity in Iraq
(June 5, 2003) Former Iraqi foreign minister Adnan Al Pachachi has urged U.S. rulers that Iraq needs "external help, including measures by major creditors to write off Iraq’s debt." Iraq should also be exempted from paying war damages under UN resolutions.
Lawmakers want rebuilding cost
(June 5, 2003) U.S. senators criticized the Bush administration for not having calculated the cost of rebuilding Iraq, even as international finance ministries begin discussing how to fund the reconstruction.
Iraq should be given relief from $bn debts, US officials
(June 5, 2003) Iraq should be given relief from its multi-billion dollar debt, and other countries, in addition to the United States, should be pressed for cash to help rebuild the country, US officials said on Wednesday.
Iraq donor meetings planned for June, September
(June 5, 2003) U.S. officials announced this week that there will be a meeting of donors in New York at the end of June, to discuss fundraising for Iraq’s reconstruction.
US reassures Russia over Iraq contract
(June 4, 2003) Russia’s Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that the question of Iraq’s huge international debts was to be settled, under UN Security Council resolution 1483, by international institutions notably the Paris Club of creditor nations.
Treasury: More cash heads toward Iraq
(June 4, 2003) John Taylor, a senior U.S. Treasury official, said: "Once we have a better estimate of the true level of Iraq’s debt, we can move forward to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with Iraq’s official debt."
Future of Iraq
(June 4, 2003) Testimony of Alan P. Larson, Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C.


