Comments on: why debt relief can be a bad idea http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/ asking questions that lead to more questions Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:21:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: these are the sorts of things I like to read and think about « Wanderlust Live http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/#comment-88 these are the sorts of things I like to read and think about « Wanderlust Live Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:24:44 +0000 http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/#comment-88 [...] Fund (see Frere Bongo’s blog for an interesting article which involves the [...] [...] Fund (see Frere Bongo’s blog for an interesting article which involves the [...]

]]> By: aflakete http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/#comment-32 aflakete Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:01:03 +0000 http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/#comment-32 1. No, not that i know of. 2. from this article http://www.congopage.com/article5050.html no, not yet. what's confusing is they're quoting the London Club president saying " this deal will make the debt tolerable and allow Congo to get into HIPC's next stage". I still think reaching the Decision Point sends a signal to both the Paris and London clubs. a signal Congo obviously didn't deserve. I don't know if I would blame France and the World Bank equally. Somehow the fact that the World Bank acknoledged the bullshit before France pressured them to go on makes me think France's issue is not negligence, it's deeper and more evil than that: supporting their "friends" at all costs. 1. No, not that i know of.
2. from this article http://www.congopage.com/article5050.html no, not yet. what’s confusing is they’re quoting the London Club president saying ” this deal will make the debt tolerable and allow Congo to get into HIPC’s next stage”. I still think reaching the Decision Point sends a signal to both the Paris and London clubs. a signal Congo obviously didn’t deserve.

I don’t know if I would blame France and the World Bank equally. Somehow the fact that the World Bank acknoledged the bullshit before France pressured them to go on makes me think France’s issue is not negligence, it’s deeper and more evil than that: supporting their “friends” at all costs.

]]> By: Akili http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/#comment-30 Akili Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:29:31 +0000 http://shakara.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/why-debt-relief-is-a-bad-idea/#comment-30 a couple of questions: 1. did the London club buy any of Congo's debt from the World Bank? 2. Since this event has the World Bank granted Congo debt relief under the HIPC regulation for its World Bank debt? I think this was definitely a back room deal ushered through the pipeline with the support of, as you appropriately mention, Jacques Chirac, and other prominent western political figure whose countries have longstanding historical relationships with Congo. The blame for this can be spread around to several parties: the World Bank for virtually ignoring Congo's financial transgressions, France for not taking enough of a hardline and Congo for being so shady and cavalier in the first place. a couple of questions:
1. did the London club buy any of Congo’s debt from the World Bank?
2. Since this event has the World Bank granted Congo debt relief under the HIPC regulation for its World Bank debt?

I think this was definitely a back room deal ushered through the pipeline with the support of, as you appropriately mention, Jacques Chirac, and other prominent western political figure whose countries have longstanding historical relationships with Congo. The blame for this can be spread around to several parties: the World Bank for virtually ignoring Congo’s financial transgressions, France for not taking enough of a hardline and Congo for being so shady and cavalier in the first place.

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