Cablegate: Spain Forgives Iraq Paris Club Debt

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

291059Z Nov 04

UNCLAS MADRID 004504

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN FORGIVES IRAQ PARIS CLUB DEBT

Econoff spoke with Ministry of Economy and Finance Assistant
Deputy Director for International Financing Systems Mario
Delgado Alfaro regarding Spain's forgiviving USD 482 million
of Iraqi Paris Club debt. This equals 80% of the total USD
602 million Iraqi debt held by Spain. Delgado emphasized
that the decision was an agreement between the government of
Iraq and the Paris Club creditors. He chided the articles in
the Spanish press that indicate this was a bilateral Spanish
decision motivated by American pressure. The official
Ministry of Economy and Finance statement stated, "Spain
endorsed this accord because it considers it a necessary
measure of support for the Iraqi people as they try to
overcome the current, grave situation."
MANZANARES

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