WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday backed the idea of debt relief for Asian countries devastated by this week's killer tsunami but was unable to say how far the United States was willing to go.
In an interview with AFP, Powell called the debt moratorium proposed by France, Germany and other countries for the stricken nations "an interesting proposal."
"I'm not in a position right now to confirm what the United States will be able to do," he said. "But I think debt relief is something, clearly, the international community should look towards."
"These countries have received a very serious blow, which not only causes great loss of life, makes a lot of people homeless, but affects their economy. So they need to be given all the relief that we can provide them."
Powell, who is due to step down early next year, said debt relief "will certainly be an idea we are concerned about." The question is expected to be raised at a January 12 meeting of the Paris Club of 19 creditor nations.
The chief US diplomat went slightly further than President George W. Bush, who responded to a question Wednesday on possible debt help for the tsunami victims by saying: "We'll look at all requests."
Andrew Natsios, administrator of the US Agency for International Development, said: "We're open to all kinds of ideas."
12/30/2004 18:31 GMT - AFP