With a communiqué issued in recent days, the office of coordination of the Austrian Episcopal Conference for international development and mission (KOO) expressed its view on the proposed moratorium of the public debts of the countries struck by the tsunami on 26 December. “This moratorium represents a positive gesture but is not the solution of the problems”, commented Heinz Hödl, director of KOO. “For heavily indebted countries like Indonesia, it is absolutely insufficient; only a complete remission of the debts may constitute a long-term aid. The time has come for the debt procedures to be removed from the hands of the creditor countries, which primarily pursue their own interests”, added Hödl, who appealed on behalf of Indonesia for a “conference on global debts, directed by a non-partisan authority, in which all the bilateral and multilateral debts of the Indonesian government would be discussed”. KOO has also expressed its disappointment “about the negative response given by Austria to the last appeal of the UNO to participate financially in the common actions. Especially in response to a disaster of this magnitude coordination and expertise of a high level are indispensable and must take priority over self-interest. The KOO therefore “urges the federal government to greater cooperation with professional organizations, both at the international level and in Austria, and to use its own know-how to ensure the best possible support for the victims”.
