[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Reform, not just relief

U.S. President George W. Bush recently showed reluctance to clear the debts owed by poor nations, saying that structural reform should come first. He has a point.
Nothing will be changed even if the G-8 nations write off the debts of those who were not able to pay back the money they owed, since they wouldn’t have paid it regardless. For this project to be really successful, a more practical strategy is needed to improve the health and education sectors and reduce the poverty of poor nations.
However, I believe that debt relief must be continued while working on developing a more effective plan, since it will at least reduce the economic burden of those countries that are carrying enormous debt.

by Hur Young-ran