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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Arab countries made clear Tuesday they are far from ready to commit to a deal to forgive more than $30 billion owed them by Iraq, despite U.S. pressure and a recent debt-relief package by other major countries.
The hesitation on the part of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait — both strong U.S. allies — could have widespread ramifications for the effort to help Iraq get back on its feet economically. A weekend deal by Russia, Japan, Europe and the United States to forgive 80 percent of their portion of Iraq's debt hinges on Arab countries going along.
Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have said no debt-relief commitments are possible until after Iraq has an elected and internationally recognized government.
Iraq takes the first step in that process in January, when it plans to hold elections for a National Assembly that is to draft a new constitution. If that is ratified, an election to choose a national government will be held in December 2005.
Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi, has repeatedly urged Arab nations to commit to debt relief.
Iraq has said its foreign debt is hindering postwar reconstruction, which also is struggling amid the country's persistent insurgency.
Despite its recent violence, Iraq is considered one of the region's largest untapped markets, and infrastructure and reconstruction contracts are expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars.
— The Associated Press
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