WASHINGTON - October 17 - Liberia recently returned to democratic rule after two decades of brutal dictatorship and a devastating civil war. From October 16 to 18, newly elected Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will be visiting Washington, D.C., to appeal to U.S. decision makers and the public for their support of Liberia at this critical time.

The international community has promised to support Johnson-Sirleaf, pledging aid to help the country rebuild. But aid will not be enough to ensure a stable future for Liberia and its people. Liberia's economy is currently hamstrung by an enormous, unjust, and unpayable debt burden. The country's current per capita debt is $1,000 per person. The per capita annual income is only $83.

Creditors are currently insisting that Liberia pay $1.5 billion in back payments and accumulated interest before it can become eligible for any debt relief or cancellation. This in a country whose government operates with an annual budget of just $80 million. Liberia is part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative but has yet to receive any debt relief under the initiative. For more information, check out this Jubilee USA Network fact sheet.

The following experts are available to comment on her visit and Liberia's debt:

Emira Woods, Co-Director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. (202) 234-9382; emira@ips-dc.org

“International rhetoric of support to Africa's first woman president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, must be matched with real action. There couldn't be a better time to negotiate the complete cancellation of Liberia's illegitimate debts.”

Charles Mutasa, Executive Director, African Forum and Network and Debt & Development (AFRODAD) (Harare, Zimbabwe) 263-4-778531/6 (office, general) or direct line: 263-4 74 7767/ charles@afrodad.co.zw Fax: 263-4-747878/ Cell: 263-91-415 720

“Debt is tearing down schools, hospitals and clinics and its effects in Liberia are more devastating than the civil war that the Liberians have already endured. If peace is to be consolidated in Liberia, the International community needs to cancel Liberia's debts so as to give it a fresh development start. Otherwise the failure of the sitting government to meet basic needs because of the debt burden will slide the nation back to war.”

Debayani Kar, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, Jubilee USA Network (202) 783-0215 (o); (202) 246-8143 (m); debi@jubileeusa.org

"We know the majority of Liberia's debt was incurred under past dictators Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. Yet the odious and illegitimate nature of this debt and resulting arrears has been overlooked by the World Bank and IMF. Instead, these creditors are claiming $1.5 billion in interest and penalties, when the country is only able to service at most $100,000 in annual debt payments. The time has come to immediately cancel Liberia's debt."

Gail Hurley, Policy and Advocacy Officer, European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) (322) 543-9063 (o) (Brussels, Belgium); ghurley@eurodad.org

"The Norwegian government's recent decision to cancel a few countries' illegitimate debts points to a way forward in addressing the unjust accumulation of past debt and arrears. The IMF and World Bank's demand of $1.5 billion from Liberia in arrears payments represents a step backwards in this dialogue, and we hope that Liberia and her creditors may come to some better conclusion, while President Johnson-Sirleaf is in the U.S."

Foreign Policy In Focus is a network for research, analysis and action that brings together more than 600 scholars, advocates and activists who strive to make the United States a more responsible global partner. The International Relations Center (IRC) in Silver City, New Mexico and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Washington, D.C. have jointly managed FPIF since 1996.

###