(July 10, 2003) A team led by Treasury is examining the Iraqi debt situation and evaluating how best to handle it. It’s going to involve the Paris Club, the London Club and debt restructurings, says J.B. Penn.
Southern Africa: Civil society pushes for greater say in AU
(July 9, 2003) "In the past it was the creditors who determined the processes. It must be remembered that there is illegitimate debt. It is not a way of exempting African governments from blame. However, there is debt caused not only be mismanagement by the government concerned, but also by poor lending practices." ?Charles Mutasa, a representative of the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AfroDAD), addressing the second African Union (AU) summit of African Governments and Heads of States in Mozambique.
Se San compensation: World Bank
(July 9, 2003) The World Bank claims social responsibility is, and will remain, of vital concern.
News Release: World Bank bonds boycott
(July 7, 2003) The World Bank Bonds Boycott campaign commends America’s largest private pension system for sellings its remaining World Bank bonds and encourages other funds to follow its lead.
Velchev’s U.S. trip reaps rewards
(July 4, 2003) According to Bulgaria’s Finance Minister Milen Velchev, the U.S. administration had shown understanding that the repayment of the Iraqi debt to Bulgaria was of great importance and it would not insist on its full cancellation.
Villagers complain about Vietnamese dams
(July 4, 2003) Villagers living along the Se San River, a tributary of the Mekong, are waiting to see how Phnom Penh will respond to their protests against controversial hydroelectric dams on Vietnam’s section of the river, villagers and environmentalists say.
Agenda in Africa
(July 3, 2003) If the United States can forgive Iraq’s debt because of Saddam Hussein’s actions, it ought to forgive the debt that Nigeria, for instance, amassed under its former military dictator, the late Sani Abacha.
Palace of problems
(July 2, 2003) Although chasing Hussein’s hidden bank accounts and finding caches of gold has grabbed headlines, those amounts are small compared with what a tough debt reduction campaign can yield for Iraq.
Africa may have a case on basis of ‘odious debt’
(July 2, 2003) "One side-effect of the American/British occupation of Iraq is that it has sparked public debate on a dark secret of international finance: the debt taken on by odious regimes," say James K. Boyce and Leonce Ndikumana.
Gates opened for four months
(July 2, 2003) All eight sluice gates at the Pak Moon dam were opened yesterday, and will stay open for four months.
Lahmeyer International sentenced in Lesotho
(July 2, 2003) German consultancy firm Lahmeyer International found guilty of bribery in Lesotho Highland Water Project.
Rethinking Japanese ODA in Vietnam’s electricity industry
(July 1, 2003) To meet Vietnam’s surging demand for electricity service, EVN wants to build 22 additional large hydro dams in the next decade or so, six of which are slated for the Se San River. But are big hydro dams the best option?
Official seeks to cool down expectations about Iraqi debt redemption
(June 30, 2003) Bulgaria should not have too great expectations about collecting a US$1.7 billion debt that Iraq ran to it during the Cold War, Deputy Minister of Finance Krasimir Katev said. The Paris Club is likely to forgive up to 60% of it, he said.
Bulgarian official warns against great expectations about Iraq’s debt
(June 30, 2003) Krassimir Katev, Bulgaria’s Deputy Finance Minister, ruled out the option for the U.S. administration to buy out the Iraqi debt, which, in his words, counters its regulations.
Vietnam to join Laos in building hydro power plant
(June 30, 2003) Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has expressed hope that Vietnamese businesses will
join with Laos in building the hydroelectric power project, Sekaman 3.
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