Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS4253
2006-06-21 09:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

PARIS CLUB - JUNE 2006 TOUR D'HORIZON, 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY,

Tags:  EFIN ECON EAID XM XA XH XB XF FR 
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VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #4253/01 1720951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210951Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8777
INFO RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 6141
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 1786
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1605
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5755
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1608
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 1353
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 1187
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 6146
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 2354
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 5380
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1387
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1938
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 7741
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1305
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 1403
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 2510
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2301
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 1569
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 1659
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0361
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0768
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0752
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1249
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0944
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1366
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0735
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0475
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1085
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1233
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0099
UNCLAS PARIS 004253 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IFD/OMA
TREASURY FOR DO/IDD AND OUSED/IMF
SECDEF FOR USDP/DSAA
PASS EXIM FOR CLAIMS -- EDELARIVA
PASS USDA FOR CCC -- ALEUNG/DERICKSON/KCHADWICK
PASS USAID FOR CLAIMS
PASS DOD FOR DSCS -- PBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID XM XA XH XB XF FR
SUBJECT: PARIS CLUB - JUNE 2006 TOUR D'HORIZON, 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY,
AND DEBT NEGOTIATIONS


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS PARIS 004253

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IFD/OMA
TREASURY FOR DO/IDD AND OUSED/IMF
SECDEF FOR USDP/DSAA
PASS EXIM FOR CLAIMS -- EDELARIVA
PASS USDA FOR CCC -- ALEUNG/DERICKSON/KCHADWICK
PASS USAID FOR CLAIMS
PASS DOD FOR DSCS -- PBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID XM XA XH XB XF FR
SUBJECT: PARIS CLUB - JUNE 2006 TOUR D'HORIZON, 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY,
AND DEBT NEGOTIATIONS


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------

1. (SBU) At the June 13-16 meeting of the Paris Club, creditors
reached a tentative agreement on a deal that will allow Russia to
repay its remaining USD 22 billion in previously rescheduled Paris
Club debt in August. The deal is still subject to approval by
Moscow. Cameroon received a completion point treatment under the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, which after
further bilateral debt relief, will reduce its debt to Paris Club
creditors from over 3.5 billion dollars to just 27 million dollars.
The US, per its HIPC policy, agreed to cancel 100 per cent of its
claims on Cameroon. Russia cast doubt on the prospects for a the
first stage of a debt treatment for Afghanistan next month,
complaining that the debt reconciliation process still had not been
completed and indicating that it was not prepared to negotiate at
the July Paris Club meeting unless more progress has been made.
Other countries on the agenda included Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Brazil, Congo-B, Djibouti, DRC, Iraq, Nigeria and Sudan. Creditors
discussed the problems of litigating creditors (vulture funds) and
free-riding (new lending to HIPCs). In addition, the Paris Club
held its annual meeting with the private sector and hosted a
conference to mark the club's 50th anniversary. END SUMMARY.

--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------

2. (U) Russia said Afghanistan did not sign a data reconciliation
agreement at a recent meeting between the two sides. Without
agreement on the debt numbers, Russia is not prepared to negotiate
the first stage of debt reduction (so-called "Naples treatment") in
July. Russia asked the secretariat to send a letter to Afghanistan
urging it to complete the reconciliation process. The US agreed

that a letter would be useful and suggested that, despite the
current impasse, Afghanistan be invited for negotiations in July,
subject to approval of the PRGF and progress on reconciliation.
Russia concurred.

--------------
ALGERIA
--------------

3. (U) The Secretariat reviewed the status of Algeria's prepayment
transaction. Participating creditors reported that they had either
received payment in full or had arranged to be paid at a later date.
Some creditors reported arrears but expect them to be cleared. The
US received full prepayment of Ex-Im debt on June 15 (USD 627

E

million). In a bilateral meeting on the margins of the Paris Club
session, the Algerian finance minister informed the US delegation
that the president of Algeria had written a letter to President Bush
seeking prepayment of Algeria's debt to USDA (around USD 600
million). USDEL explained that the USDA debt did not contain
prepayment provisions, and that the Paris Club agreement governing
Algeria's prepayment prohibited early repayment above face value.

--------------
ANGOLA
--------------

4. (U) Paris Club Chairman Musca's meeting with the Angolan
Finance Minister, originally due to take place at the end of last
month, is now scheduled for June 26. The IMF said Angola's new DSA
will show that external debt indicators have improved substantially,
resulting in the country's reclassification from high to moderate
risk of debt distress.

--------------
ARGENTINA
--------------

5. (U) The Secretariat asked if any creditors had met with
Argentina bilaterally. Germany and the US reported that their
embassies in Buenos Aires had been approached. Spain said President
Kirchner will meet with Spanish authorities later this month, but it
is unclear what his message will be. The US, supported by Italy and
the Netherlands, stressed that creditors should continue to urge
Argentina to pursue a multilateral solution in the Paris Club, and
that any debt treatment without an IMF program would be problematic.
Germany (Argentina's largest Paris Club creditor) said it was not
looking to conclude a bilateral deal.

--------------
BRAZIL
--------------

6. (U) The Secretariat took stock of Brazil's prepayment
transaction. Italy and Canada reported some arrears that have yet
to be cleared. Germany said it was trying to resolve some disputed
claims. All other creditors have received prepayment and have no
arrears. In response to a question from Italy, the Secretariat
explained that Brazil has yet to make a formal request to become a
member of the Paris Club, but appears to be considering such a
request and has asked the Secretariat to gauge how creditors might
react.

--------------
CAMEROON
--------------


7. (U) Creditors provided Cameroon its HIPC completion point
treatment. In line with their commitment at decision point,
creditors agreed to cancel USD 622 million in claims (in June 1999
NPV terms),including USD 117 million in interim relief already
provided. An additional USD 3.1 billion will be canceled on a
voluntary, bilateral basis.

--------------
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE
--------------

8. (U) The second phase of interim relief will enter into force
upon approval of the second review of Congo-B's PRGF. The second
review is scheduled for end-June. The US indicated that Congo
needed to pay 779,638 dollars in arrears to Exim and USDA before it
could support the extension of interim relief.

--------------
DJIBOUTI
--------------

9. (U) Djibouti continues to run arrears to France and Spain. The
Secretariat will send a letter to the authorities urging them to

SIPDIS
conclude a bilateral agreement with Spain implementing the 2000
Paris Club terms of reference, and noting that Djibouti could
benefit from a Paris Club treatment if it had an IMF program in
place. (The US is not a creditor.)

--------------
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
--------------

10. (U) The DRC's finance minister has requested a meeting with the
Secretariat to examine ways for creditors to extend interim HIPC

SIPDIS
relief, despite the fact that the DRC's PRGF has expired and a
successor arrangement is uncertain. The Secretariat will deliver a
three-pronged message: (1) creditors cannot extend interim relief
in the absence of an IMF program; (2) creditors are pleased with the
DRC's willingness to be cooperative; and (3) the DRC should respect
inter-creditor equity.

--------------
IRAQ
--------------

11. (U) Russia and Ireland are the only remaining Paris Club
creditors that have yet to sign a bilateral agreement with Iraq.
Russia expressed optimism that a meeting with the Iraqi Finance
Minister scheduled for later in the week could result in progress on
data reconciliation. The Secretariat reported that discussions
between Ireland and Iraq were progressing, and that a bilateral
should be signed soon.


--------------
NIGERIA
--------------

12. (U) Amid press reports that Nigeria is considering a
restructuring of its commercial debt, the Secretariat expressed
concern that participants at the Paris Club's annual meeting with
the private sector might question whether the comparability of
treatment principle is being respected. The UK, supported by the
US, reminded creditors that they had already determined last year
that Nigeria's previous commercial restructurings were sufficient to
satisfy the comparability of treatment requirement. Moreover, since
Nigeria no longer had any Paris Club debt, it was pointless for the
Club to reopen the debate. The following day, at the meeting with
the private sector, private sector participants did not press the
issue.

--------------
RUSSIA
--------------

13. (SBU) Creditors agreed to the terms of a transaction that will
allow Russia to pay off the totality of its previously rescheduled
Paris Club debt. The agreement was not finalized, however, because
Russia said the envisaged payments exceeded a limit established by
its Council of Ministers. Russia will seek approval from the
council later this month. If the council consents, the agreement
will take effect. The agreement came at the end of protracted and
bitter negotiations that extended over two days. For its opening
position, Russia offered to prepay its remaining Paris Club debt at
face value, in line with the USD 15 billion prepayment transaction
that was concluded last summer. Germany and France, who together
account for over half of the USD 22 billion in debt outstanding,
declined the offer. Both countries indicated that they would not
include all their claims in a prepayment at face value, but would
consider participating fully in a buyback at market value. Russia's
negotiating strategy was then to find a sufficient price to entice
Germany and France to participate, while minimizing the premium paid
to other creditors who were otherwise prepared to accept face value.
In the agreement that emerged, Germany, France, the Netherlands,
the UK were the only countries eligible to receive a premium above
face value for their fixed-rate claims. The US did not sign the
Agreed Minute, but provided a side letter welcoming the agreement
and reiterating that Russia has the contractual right to prepay its
outstanding US debt at any time. The negotiations with Russia
contrasted sharply with those that took place with Algeria last
month. In the case of Algeria, the Secretariat quickly quashed
discussion of a buyback option at market value, arguing that Algeria
would never consider it. In the case of Russia, the Secretariat was

prepared to bend Paris Club principles to meet two objectives: (1)
close a deal in which all creditors participated; and (2) ensure
that France and Germany received market value for their fixed-rate
claims, even if others did not.

--------------
SUDAN
--------------

14. (U) At the request of the Netherlands, the Secretariat agreed
to initiate a data call, under which creditors will report the
amount of Sudan's bilateral debt.

--------------
Litigating Creditors
--------------

15. (U) Reacting to the Secretariat's working paper on ways for the
Paris Club to help debtor countries defend themselves from
litigating creditors (sometimes referred to as "vulture funds"),the
US, Spain, and the UK stressed the importance of respecting the rule
of law. The US added that amicus briefs were not likely to be
effective, and that the status quo was perhaps the best option.
Spain, Italy, and the UK said changes to domestic laws would be
difficult. In response to Spain's comment that the issue of
litigating creditors was one for the IFIs to resolve, the IMF said
there was little it could do other than try to exert moral suasion.
Both the IMF and the US raised a related question that will require
further thought: how does the Paris Club deal with debtors who
negotiate settlements with private creditors that are clearly not
consistent with comparability of treatment? The Secretariat
concluded by saying that this discussion was a first step in an
effort to find a common approach to the issue. At the next meeting,
it will ask creditors to consider concrete steps that can be taken
immediately, such as sending letters to debtors on the comparability
of treatment requirement that they can use in their discussions with
litigating creditors. The Secretariat thought a meeting with
litigating creditors, as suggested by the US, would be useful, but
that Paris Club creditors first need to decide on a common message.

--------------
Free-Riding
--------------

16. (U) The Secretariat gave a comprehensive and useful
presentation on free-riding, i.e. the problem of emerging creditors,
such as China, providing non-concessional debt or excessive amounts
of concessional debt to heavily indebted countries or countries that
have just completed the HIPC process. The presentation highlighted
efforts underway in the IMF, World Bank, and OECD to address
free-riding and suggested a number of (mostly constructive) steps

the Paris Club could take to help, namely:

-- Promote the use of the IMF's Debt Sustainability Framework (DSF)
to inform lending decisions
-- Exchange views and data on free-riding cases
-- Inform countries that have not completed the HIPC process that
the Paris Club will insist that they seek comparable debt relief
from new lenders
-- Ask HIPC countries to make commitments on responsible borrowing.
(It is unclear how this would work in practice, or whether the
Paris Club should be the arbiter of responsible borrowing.)

--------------
Annual Meeting with the Private Sector
--------------

17. (U) Participants discussed recent Paris Club activity
(including agreements concluded with Nigeria and Algeria),
developments in emerging debt markets, Iraq's commercial debt
restructuring, and Argentina's debt situation. The Institute of
International Finance (IIF) touted its Principles for stable capital
flows and fair debt restructuring in emerging markets, claiming that
debtor countries were implementing the Principles more than ever.
On the issue of comparability of treatment, the IIF questioned why
the Paris Club isn't more transparent in instances where comparable
treatment is judged to have been satisfied by previous commercial
restructurings (e.g., case of Moldova and Nigeria). Paris Club
chairman Musca said the Club would give the issue more thought, but
in the meantime, the private sector can always check with the debtor
country to see if comparable treatment has been satisfied.


18. (U) French Bank UBAF, which led the so-called London Club
Consultative Group, launched into a blistering and at times ad
hominem attack on Iraq's advisors and their "unilateral" commercial
offer - even though UBAF accepted the offer. The US pointed out
that the Iraqi authorities and their advisors had very different
views, but were not in the room to defend themselves. Musca said
the Paris Club has done its best to emphasize the importance of
transparency, cooperation, and equitable treatment in debt
restructurings, but can't be expected to act alone. He called on
the IMF and other international actors to ensure that the
Principles, the IMF's lending-into-arrears policy, and other
standards were respected.


19. (U) In his presentation on Argentina, Nicola Stock,
representing Italian bondholders, remarked that a country that could
repay its debts to the IMF should have treated its private creditors
better. A representative from the Argentine Bondholders Committee
said reverse comparable treatment should apply (i.e., the Paris Club

should provide debt relief equivalent to that already provided by
the private sector),and called on the Paris Club not to restructure
Argentina's debt without an IMF program. The Secretariat confirmed
that an IMF program was a prerequisite for a restructuring in the
Paris Club, which in turn would require that Argentina be in
compliance with the Fund's lending-into-arrears policy (i.e., the
policy of lending only when the debtor is making a good faith effort
to reach an agreement with creditors). The IMF said it did not see
any prospect for an IMF program with Argentina at this time, and
noted that it was planning to review its lending-into-arrears
policy. The IIF said any revision to the lending-into-arrears
policy must not facilitate misbehavior by debtor countries.

--------------
50th Anniversary Conference
--------------

20. (U) The conference was organized around two roundtable
discussions: (1) the Paris Club and the international financial
architecture, and (2) the Paris Club and the restoration of debt
sustainability. During the first discussion, Jacques de Larosiere
(IIF) touched on a number of familiar themes, including the shift
from sovereign lending to private capital, the "take-it-or-leave-it"
debt restructuring offers by Iraq and Argentina, the failure of the
Paris Club to recognize reverse comparable treatment, and the IMF's
reluctance to enforce its own lending-into-arrears policy. Jean
Lemierre (EBRD and former Paris Club Chairman) defended one-way
comparability of treatment, arguing that sovereign lenders and
private lenders were fundamentally different. Several speakers said
the credibility and relevance of the Paris Club depended on the
Club's success in reaching out to emerging lenders. Others
expressed support for the IIF Principles and called for increased
transparency and cooperation with the private sector. In the second
roundtable, Michel Camdessus, former IMF Managing Director and
Chairman of the Paris Club, highlighted the risk that irresponsible
borrowing in low-income countries could lead to new debt crises.
Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala suggested that the
Paris Club should take into account debtor countries' development
needs in determining the level of sustainable debt, while debtors
need to monitor their own borrowing. Vicenzo La Via (World Bank)
said debt cancellation itself would not ensure debt sustainability
and emphasized the importance of the DSF and governance issues.
Overall, speakers in both sessions were reluctant to engage in a
serious debate about the Paris Club's future, opting instead to pose
broad, rhetorical questions interspersed with paeans to the Club's
history and accomplishments.

STAPLETON#