(June 12, 2003) Richard Perle, the influential Pentagon adviser, on Wednesday called for the complete forgiveness of Iraqi national debt, an act which would teach banks the risks of lending to a "vicious dictatorship".

(June 12, 2003) Richard Perle, the influential Pentagon adviser, on Wednesday called for the complete forgiveness of Iraqi national debt, an act which would teach banks the risks of lending to a "vicious dictatorship".

(June 12, 2003) Iraqi former finance ministry director general, Fayek Abdel Rasul, estimates Iraq’s foreign worth at more than US$18 billion. The assets were distributed in several foreign banks and as much as US$7 billion had been frozen.

(June 11, 2003) One of the hottest issues of Bulgaria’s international policy – the Iraqi debt – depends entirely on the pace of the reconstruction in the crisis region, the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petko Draganov said.

(June 11, 2003) Sinan M. Ridha al-Shabibi, consultant to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, says Iraq has a case for debt forgiveness: "Iraq’s exceptional case derives from the sanctions and wars and poverty which it has suffered."

(June 11, 2003) The redemption of a US$1.7 billion debt Iraq owes to Bulgaria will depend on the Arab country’s post-war recovery, Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petko Draganov said.

(June 11, 2003) Sinan M. Ridha al-Shabibi, consultant to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, says Iraq has a case for debt forgiveness: "Iraq exceptional case derives from the sanctions and wars and poverty which it has suffered.

(June 10, 2003) Japan will report it has about US$7 billion in loans outstanding to Iraq when it meets as part of a group of 19 creditor nations, known as the Paris Club, at its two-day meeting starting June 10, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported.

(June 9, 2003) A range of strategies and concrete actions proposed in the framework of a reaffirmation of unity in fighting for debt cancellation were the main results of a World Council of Churches (WCC) workshop that addressed debt campaign divisions.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.