Belka tells media that Iraqi resembles the Polish economy of the 1980s

After meeting with President Aleksander Kwaśniewski yesterday, the head of the Iraq International Coordination Committee, Marek Belka, told a press conference that the largest problem in Iraq is currently the lack of security and energy, adding that there is no chance of developing a functioning economy without free prices. Belka also compared the current situation in Iraq to that of Poland during the late 1980's. According to him, 60% of Iraqi people receive food rations worth 12 American cents a month, while a liter of fuel costs zł. 0.05, a situation which is impossible to sustain. Belka announced that he will assume the post of the director for economic development in Iraq as of November 5. His new responsibilities will include control over budgets, economic policies, and private sector development in all Iraqi zones. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A6) A.K.