Iraq debt

[arh777]

Bulgaria expected to cancel most of Iraq's debt

BBC International Reports (Europe)
Mar 24 2005



Bulgaria expected to cancel most of Iraq's debt - parliament official
[Announcer] After a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador Haydar al-Baraq, SND [Simeon II National Movement] Parliamentary Group Chairman Stanimir Ilchev said that Bulgaria was expected to adopt the same decision as the Paris Club, which has written off 80 per cent of Iraq's debt. Both officials see the potential visit of a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation to Iraq as the first opportunity to discuss this issue, Stanimir Ilchev said.

[Ilchev] [passage omitted] According to him, such a visit would be much more purposeful if it was not restricted merely to a visit to our [military] contingent, but if it also included a visit to the capital Baghdad, where he even agreed to participate in arranging a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister and his deputies in the cabinet, including the possibility to discuss our country's broader economic involvement in his country's reconstruction.

[arh777]

EDITORIAL

Five billion dollars to Reconstruct Cities in Iraq

Noozz Editorial
Mar 24 2005

The chief of the US engineering unit said yesterday that projects worth 5 billion dollars had been launched in the badly hit cities like Fallujah, Samara and Najaf. "There are 100,000 Iraqis involved in these projects to reconstruct the cities which were badly hit during hostilities," he said.


He also referred to the country's oil sector which has been hit on regular basis by the insurgents, saying that work had been underway to enhance Iraq oil production. He expected the country's exports of oil to reach 2.3 m/bpd by the year end.

However, the US general said that the country lacked financial resources to go ahead with its reconstruction plans. He pointed to the World Bank's estimates that Iraq needs 60 billion dollars for the reconstruction process.

"Currently, there are only 18 billion dollars of the US donation, in addition to tiny sums of other countries donations," The general said.

[arh777]

Nooz Editorial
Mar 24 2005

An informed source at the Ministry of Trade said yesterday that, starting next month, the public company for construction material would open up its storage facilities to supply residents of Fallujah with subsidized construction materials.


Owners of the damaged houses in Fallujah will be entitled to receive the construction materials according to the percentage of damage. Most houses suffered 50-to-100 percent damage during the hostilities between the US army and the insurgents last November.

Basel Alqeisi, the civil governor of the city said that the compensation committee, in coordination with the US marines and Iraq insurance company, would start handing out 26,000 compensation checks to Fallujah residents. "Names of the compensation beneficiaries will be released soon at well-protected centers and the checks will be payable at the same place for security reasons," Alqeisi said.

[arh777]

Ayad Allawi


Mar 24 2005




DEHGHANPISHEH: Are you still hoping to become prime minister?

ALLAWI: Well, of course. Negotiations are continuing between the various groups. Democracy in Iraq has started very constructively. All of us are keen to make it a success.


Has your close association with the Americans hurt you?

No, no. Frankly, the Americans have shed blood in defense of freedom and values here, together with Iraqis. This deserves our great respect and admiration.


Yet the process of forming the new government seems to have stalled.

This is a new thing for Iraq. We witness other people in the world having elections and practicing democracy, but here it's only just being built. That's why I don't feel that it's stalling. This is the nature of democracy.


The victorious United Iraqi Alliance is dominated by religious parties. Are they going to push through an Islamist agenda?

I don't know. We respect the will of the people. And the people have elected the group of 26 or so parties that form the Alliance. My party definitely stands for a liberal Iraq, a democratic Iraq. The debates which take place in the Assembly will hopefully prevent political Islam from taking over.


Members of the Alliance hint they will pursue an aggressive de-Baathification campaign. Is that a potential problem?

Definitely, if it happens. The key to democracy in Iraq is national unity and reconciliation. And that's why some of the views coming from some members of the Alliance do raise alarm. We hope that logic and reason will prevail rather than the spirit of revenge and disunity.


Are concrete steps being taken to reach out to Sunni groups?

We tried to convince the Sunnis to participate in the election. Some now wish they had, they tell me. The day after the election I called for continued dialogue. We should keep trying, not by words but by deeds.


Your government has also been criticized for its handling of the security situation.

This is really one of our successes. Look at the great number of arrests. The information we have gained so far is very useful, not only for Iraq but for the international community. Because this is a war that, although it's being waged in Iraq, is really all over the world. We're witnessing an escalation in terrorism and we need to close ranks.


Have there been any meaningful discussions with insurgent leaders since the elections?

Well, there is now definitely more room for people to be part of the political process.


Do you think neighboring countries are helping insurgents?

Stability in Iraq will spill over to the region, and vice versa. We hope that everybody would realize that helping Iraq to fight terrorism is really helping themselves. It's unfortunate that some neighboring countries have abused this spirit by hosting insurgents.


Is there a date when Saddam Hussein and other senior officials will be brought to trial?

Not really. We have started the proceedings and are determined to do this as soon as possible. But we need to do it according to international norms. So we are trying to build up the judges, and the capabilities of the judicial system, to deal rapidly and effectively with the cases of Saddam and the others who committed crimes against the Iraqi people.


Will the next government set a timetable for American troop withdrawal?

I am very much against a timetable. I am very much for developing our own capabilities so that our own forces will be able to face the threats and challenges, and to shift the relationship between Iraq and the United States to a much more strategic one encompassing not only security, but culture and trade. We should be looking at the future partnership, frankly speaking.

[Tyreds Tale]

Do you have any links to these? Where do you get your stories arh777?

[arh777]

Do you have any links to these? Where do you get your stories arh777?


It's a 7 day trial with Noozz.com. Just register and get a password.

[Dinaress]

MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) - Russia will sign an agreement this year finalising a plan to write-off most of the money owed to it by Iraq, a Finance Ministry official said on Thursday.


http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050331/3/1ym85.html
go Putin! now the others need to come on with it! :happy64:

[Templecityboy]

MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) - Russia will sign an agreement this year finalising a plan to write-off most of the money owed to it by Iraq, a Finance Ministry official said on Thursday.


http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050331/3/1ym85.html
go Putin! now the others need to come on with it! :happy64:
Nice post DR