(December 1, 2004) Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said Kuwait’s decision to write-off some of Iraq’s debt would go in harmony with the Paris Club’s recent decision.
Kofi Annan must go
(December 1, 2004) It’s time for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to resign.
Iraq seeks debt-relief deal with its Arab neighbours
(December 1, 2004) We expect our Arab brothers will give us the highest reduction rate," said Adel Abd al-Mahdi, Iraq’s Finance Minister. "Any negotiations should start with the 80 per cent rate.
Taxpayers’ cash ‘funding corrupt deals’
(November 30, 2004) The UK’s “File on 4” explores claims of corruption that have surfaced over several projects backed by the UK government’s Export Credits Guarantee Department.
File on 4: Part II
(November 30, 2004) “The British companies, of course, would say . . . we wouldn’t dream of bribing anybody, but we just think the rules are too complicated, we can’t possibly know what our associates abroad are doing, so we can’t apply these rules.”
File on 4
(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.
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.
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