• Update: Wed, Mar 22, 2000
    		•
    Campaign for Debt Cancellation
    Letter by the General Minister and the General Definitorium
    to the Prime Minister of Japan

       

    PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI

    Prime Minister’s Office
    1-6-1 Nagata-cho
    Chiyoda-ku
    Tokyo 100
    Japan.

    Prot. n. 089483

    18th of March 2000.

    Dear Prime Minister,

    I am the Minister General of the Franciscan Order (OFM) and along with the General Council of the Order, and many other catholic religious, we support wholeheartedly the call of the Jubilee 2000 campaign for debt cancellation in its three dimensions:

      1. cancellation of the backlog of unplayable debt
      2. under an independent and transparent procedure
      3. effective steps to prevent such high levels of debt building up again.

    We strongly urge, therefore, that in the coming Okinawa Summit, debt be placed on the agenda in a comprehensive and integral manner, with a special emphasis on the above points. Furthermore, we urge that debt cancellation not be conditional on structural adjustment programs.

    We express our gratitude for the generosity that Japan has shown in its support for the indebted countries to date. We believe that the cancellation of the unjust debt is one of the essential starting points of this United Nations decade for the promotion of a culture of peace.

    Yours sincerely,

    Over 40 religious congregations, based in Rome, have made and appeal to the Japanese Prime Minister to include debt cancellation in the upcoming meeting of the G8 Economic summit in Okinawa, Japan in June 2000. The Minister General of the Franciscans, Friars Minor, has also written a letter.

    The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation coordinators of each of the congregations are bringing this issue to the notice of their brothers and sisters throughout the world, encouraging them to write to the Japanese Prime Minister. Progress towards significant cancellation of the debt has been made, but much more needs to be done. The host country sets the agenda for he June meeting. The letter campaign is to encourage the inclusion of the debt issue on that agenda.


    © Macmade on Wed, Mar 22, 2000 at 15:17:12 by John Abela ofm (Communications Office - Rome)
    HTML 3.0 compatible Java enabled browser required - Best viewed with Netscape at 640x480x67Hz
    Maintained by John Abela ofm and Gianfranco Pinto Ostuni ofm