(November 7, 2003) The group aims to reach an agreement with Baghdad by the end of 2004, the deadline of its official moratorium on Iraq’s payments, a person close to the Paris Club told Friday’s Wall Street Journal.
Make Baghdad pay
(November 6, 2003) The New York Times posted an amendment to an opinion editorial published on Nov. 4 by Mark Medish, who wrote Iraq should repay its foreign debts and negotiate "an orderly, market-friendly debt repayment schedule based on financial analysis; and encourage creative solutions, including debt swaps." What the article didn’t disclose at the time of publication was that Mr. Medish, an international lawyer and former Treasury official, represents corporations that are owed money by Iraq.
Thanks for nothing
(November 6, 2003) For many Iraqis, the Madrid Donors’ Conference added insult to injury. The event was a surreal "charity" auction, selling the supposed beneficiary into bondage.
IMF weighing how much Iraq debt should be forgiven
(November 6, 2003) World Bank president James Wolfensohn has estimated that Iraq’s total debt load is around $120 billion and that at least two-thirds should be forgiven to give the country a good start at rebuilding.
Bulgaria’s $1m aid to Iraq
(November 6, 2003) But Bulgaria is not ready to cancel Iraq’s debt. "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." – Foreign Minister Solomon Passi.
Bremer plans to enlarge, refocus Iraq occupation authority
(November 6, 2003) Bremer also intends to devote more attention to reducing Iraq’s debt . . . Bremer is considering several options to address the issue, including asking Bush to appoint a senior official to engage in negotiations with foreign governments.
Make Baghdad pay
(November 4, 2003) For Iraq to normalize its external financial relations, it must respect one of the first principles of the rule of law: contracts should be honored. Without this presumption, markets cannot work.
High crimes in Lesotho: transnational criminals (Part 3)
(November 1, 2003) In principle, First World development banks and
export credit agencies could curb corrupt behaviour by transnational
companies in developing countries but apparently don’t want to offend
their First World constituents by doing so. This article, Part 3 in a series, takes a close look at a recent case, Lesotho’s Highland Water Project (LHWP), a huge World Bank-financed dam project where a half dozen leading Canadian and European engineering and construction firms are now being prosecuted for bribery by one of southern Africa’s smallest, most poverty-stricken countries.
Odious rulers, odious debts
(November 1, 2003) America must commit itself to something in return for international cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq: the establishment of a framework for addressing debt relief, debt restructuring, and odious debts.
High crimes in Lesotho: transnational criminals (Part 3)
(November 1, 2003) In principle, First World development banks and export credit agencies could curb corrupt behaviour by transnational companies in developing countries but apparently don’t want to offend their First World constituents by doing so.
Relief for Iraq
(October 31, 2003) Clearly, some form of major relief for Iraq should be granted. Saddling the country with a burdensome debt is no way to get the first genuine Arab democracy off the ground.
Who will rebuild Iraq?
(October 31, 2003) The Russians are represented in Madrid, but they are there only to insist that any new, democratic Iraq repay the $3.4 billion they lent Saddam to buy MiGs and other Soviet-era weaponry. No wonder they are called Odious Debts.
Iraq business deals may be invalid, law experts warn
(October 30, 2003) The US-led provisional authority in Iraq may be breaking international law by selling state assets, experts have warned, raising the prospect that contracts signed now by foreign investors could be scrapped by a future Iraqi government.
When sovereign debt piles up, try a good workout
(October 28, 2003) Many "poor countries" spend heavily on weapons. A Congressional Research Service report shows that developing nations are the biggest market for arms. Will there be more workouts after Iraq and Argentina? Take a guess.
Don’t let Iraq debt break the bank
(October 27, 2003) As a child living in Kuwait during the first month of the Iraqi invasion . . . the most predominant memories are that of adolescents and senior citizens dressed in camouflage and toting AK-47’s, none of whom wanted to be there.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 