Iraqi Debt Reschedule Up to Paris Club: Russia's Finance Minister

It is up to the Paris creditor club alone to determine whether the Iraqi national debt will be rescheduled. That format of related negotiations has been decided upon. As for practical rescheduling details, they will depend on all involved countries, says Alexei Kudrin, Russia's Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

He highlighted close stances of Russia, France and Germany as they object to Iraqi debts written off unconditionally.

The debts will certainly be rescheduled, and it is unreasonable to expect whatever sizable payments within the next two years or so. "We have long been waiting for debt payments, and we can wait longer," the minister remarked in Paris.

There is something far more important to wait for now - the emergence of a lawful government in Iraq, he added.