Middle East tour for Baker to alleviate Iraq's debts

The US President George W. Bush said that his special envoy for canceling the Iraqi debts, James Baker, will shortly head for the Middle East. Bush said following a lunch with Baker on Thursday that his special envoy will head for the Middle East.

Bush added that Baker informed him on the results of his two visits to Japan and China, and described the two visits as very positive. He commended the efforts made by the American envoy in his Euro-Asian tour in order to alleviate Iraq's debts.

Both Tokyo and Beijing showed support for the contribution to alleviate the Iraqi debts which toal 120 billion dollars. Earlier, Japan announced it will be ready to chop most of the Iraqi debt if other countries are ready to do this.

Iraq is debted to Tokyo are 4.1 billion, without the interest, which increase the debt to 7 billion.

A Chinese governmental radio said that Beijing will also discuss reduction of Iraqi debts.

Baker made a tour on Asia and Europe, and received commitments to alleviate the Iraqi debts even from countries which opposed the American military interference in Iraq.