[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 51 (Monday, December 22, 2003)]
[Pages 1812-1813]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement Agreed to by President Bush, President Chirac, and 
Chancellor Schroeder

December 16, 2003

    Debt reduction is critical if the Iraqi people are to have any 
chance to build a free and prosperous Iraq. Therefore, France, Germany, 
and the United States agree that there should be substantial debt 
reduction for Iraq in the Paris Club in 2004, and will work closely with 
each other and with other countries to achieve this objective. The exact 
percentage of debt reduction that would constitute ``substantial'' debt 
reduction is subject to future agreement between the parties.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.

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