PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodia asked the United States on Tuesday to cancel $339 million in debt that dates back to loans from the 1970s — or consider converting most of it into development aid for the impoverished country.
The proposal, which came during a visit by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, was the latest in a long-running exchange about how to handle the debt and what the money was used for 40 years ago.
"Cambodia has asked the United States government to cancel the debt but if it cannot do that, at least turn 70 percent of the debt into aid for the social development of the country," Deputy Foreign Minister Ouch Borith said after a meeting with Marciel. He said if the latter option were accepted, Cambodia would discuss repayment plans for the remaining 30 percent.
No comments:
Post a Comment