wfn.org | Clinton debt announcement welcomed

[Theo Coggin, Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday 30 March 1998]

Tel: +2711-487-0026
e-mail: coggin@sn.apc.org

The announcement by President Bill Clinton that he would raise the issue
of the international debt of African countries at the meeting of the G7
group of countries to be held in England in May was welcome, according
to the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, the Most Revd
Njongonkulu Ndungane.

President Clinton made his announcement this weekend while on a visit to
several African countries, including South Africa.

Archbishop Ndungane, who has been in the forefront of those calling for
the repudiation of such debt, said that calls had repeatedly been made
for international debt to be cancelled so that the resulting capital
which would be made available could be used for social service.

The Archbishop noted that the President had pointed out that debt relief
was in the national interest of the United States.  While one accepted
this point of view, one had to study his speech in detail before
commenting further, he said. The real issue was about giving new
opportunities to debt-stricken countries whose people deserved the
opportunity to start anew.

Archbishop Ndungane will also be addressing the issue of debt in Africa
at the launch of Jubilee 2000 in Africa, to be held in Accra, Ghana,
next month.