(October 16, 2003) Iraq’s debt to Bulgaria would most probably be paid off through its oil, US Congressman James Sensenbrenner said to Bulgaria’s Parliamentary Speaker Ognyan Gerdjikov.
Acting trade minister says most of Iraq’s debt should be forgiven
(October 16, 2003) Iraq’s interim trade minister says at least 65 per cent of his country’s outstanding debt should be forgiven. Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi says Iraq’s debts were incurred by what he calls a "brutal, authoritarian, dictatorial regime.
Upcoming donors conference shaping up
(October 16, 2003) The Coalition Provisional Authority’s chief fundraiser Marek Belka says he expects that some countries would contribute by writing off Iraq’s foreign debt incurred under the deposed Hussein regime.
UN backs Iraq resolution
(October 16, 2003) The resolution confirms that for the time being the Coalition Provisional Authority will remain the over-arching power in Iraq, but stresses the transfer of sovereignty and government back to the Iraqi people as soon as practicable.
News flash: Reservoir to reach 156 metres a year earlier than planned
The builders of the Three Gorges dam intend to fill the reservoir to 156 metres above sea level one year ahead of schedule, an official project publication has revealed.
Cuomo lectures on future of American policy
(October 13, 2003) "How do you become a liberator? Make them truly free" by forgiving foreign debt and working with the rest of the world to build a sound democratic structure, said former New York governor Mario Cuomo.
People power sinks a dam
(October 16, 2003) Fierce competition among China’s new power giants has touched off a dam-building spree in the country that already has almost half of the world’s big dams.
Thai EGAT says yet to decide to buy power from Laos
(October 11, 2003) Thailand’s state power producer said on Saturday it had yet to decide whether it would start buying power from Laos in 2009 as planned.
France confirms EdF stays in Laos dam-Lao official
(October 11, 2003) The French government confirmed on Friday that state-owned Electricite de France [EDF.UL] will remain in a controversial $1.1 billion hydropower project in Laos, a Laos embassy official said.
Prospects dim for $1.2bn power project
(October 9, 2003) The future of a US$1.2-billion hydro-electric project in Laos has grown dimmer with the decision by the Electricity Generating Authority of hailand (Egat) to eliminate power purchases from the project from its 15-year development plan.
Council of judges reestablished
(October 9, 2003) The council will operate independently of the Iraqi Justice Ministry, and will "investigate allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence . . . and nominate lawyers to fill judicial and prosecutorial vacancies."
Some EU donors eye delay if no Iraq resolution
(October 9, 2003) Without a resolution, only those who already have troops in Iraq will want to put in much money," one EU diplomat said.
China to discuss Salween dam project
(October 9, 2003) The Thai and Chinese governments will talk about investment in the Salween dam project during the Apec meeting, said Sitthiporn Rattanopas, governor of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat).
Freeing Iraq of its ‘odious debts’
(October 9, 2003) Believe it or not, there is a Web site, sponsored by a Canadian organization, called odiousdebts.org. It focuses on a question generally thought to be just over the horizon of public interest, but no longer.
Soaking U.S. taxpayers for France, Russia and Germany – Iraq should pay its own way!
(October 8, 2003) Iraq can’t finance its own reconstruction because it has a debt of $200 billion and can’t borrow against future oil profits. More than half is commercial debt owed to a number of countries and the rest is war reparations owed from the first Gulf War.
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