(November 25, 2004) MEDIA RELEASE Electricité de France (EdF) could come under scrutiny in France for its role in the controversial Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in Lao PDR.
EU watchdog exposes international aid fraud
(November 26, 2004) The 25-nation bloc is one of the world’s largest aid donors and in its annual report, published on Friday, OLAF said the EU’s humanitarian and development aid to third countries was a victim of “complex and well-organised” financial fraud.
Russia will write off 90 percent of Iraq debt: Putin
(November 25, 2004) Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow had committed itself to writing off 90 percent of Iraq’s debts, more than the 80 percent of forgiveness agreed by the Paris Club of sovereign debtors.
Argentina delays debt swap launch to Jan. 17
(November 24, 2004) Argentina said it will put off launching its record $102.6 billion debt restructuring from next week until Jan. 17 due to delays abroad in approving the debt swap proposal.
Russia will gain nothing from writing off Iraq’s debt
(November 23, 2004) By agreeing to forgive 80% of Iraq’s debt, Russia has gained nothing and Russia’s chances of securing access to Iraq’s mineral wealth look very bleak, say experts.
Debt relief weighed down by IMF burden
(November 23, 2004) Rich nations’ decision to forgive part of Iraq’s debt will help the occupied country but also saddle it with a burdensome economic programme that threatens to take decision-making power from Iraqis and put it in the hands of IMF officials, say critics.
Resolution prepared for the Iraqi National Assembly
(November 22, 2004) The Iraqi National Assembly has agreed to support a recommendation by its Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) to repudiate the odious debts incurred by Saddam Hussein.
Stop financing dictators
(November 22, 2004) Debt forgiveness for Iraq demonstrates how foolhardy it is to lend money to tyrants.
Paris Club drops 80 pct of Iraq debt it owed
(November 22, 2004) The Paris Club of creditor nations have agreed to cancel 80 percent of the debt Iraq owes its members, ending a trans-Atlantic dispute and probably setting the framework for debt pardons from other creditors.
Nations agree to cancel 80 percent of Iraq’s debt
(November 22, 2004) Patricia Adams, executive director of Probe International, writes: "Most debts created by Saddam Hussein in the name of the Iraqi people would qualify as ‘odious’ according to the international Doctrine of Odious Debts.
Major creditors in accord to waive 80% of Iraq debt
(November 22, 2004) The world’s leading industrial nations agreed Sunday to cancel 80 percent of the nearly $39 billion debt owed them by Iraq, a critical step in rebuilding the country’s devastated economy and an important precedent for its other creditors to follow.
Iraqi debt forgiven: analysts debate the significance
(November 22, 2004) Political and economic experts in Iraq are at odds as to whether the move will help bring greater stability to the country, where insurgents wage daily attacks throughout Iraq.
Bush applauds Iraq debt pledge, calls for more
(November 22, 2004) US President George W. Bush has applauded the decision by the so-called Paris Club of creditor nations to slash 80 per cent of the money Iraq owes them, and urged non-member countries to do the same.
Bulgaria: Iraq’s debt relief not negative, says Finance Minister
(November 22, 2004) The decision of G7 countries to write off up to 80% of Iraq’s Paris Club debt will not have effect on Bulgaria, since the country is not a member of the club, Finance Minister Milen Velchev said.
Australia agrees to cancel 80 pct of Iraq’s debt
(November 22, 2004) Australia will cancel 1.1 billion-dollar (858 million US dollars) debt owed by Iraq.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
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