Sweden is prepared to freeze the US$7.6 million debt over the next two years owed by Indonesia, which was hard hit by last month's tsunami disaster, the Swedish finance minister announced on Wednesday.

"I welcome the G7 countries' decision to freeze debt payments from the Asian countries hit by the tsunami ... Sweden supports this," Finance Minister Paer Nuder said, referring to a decision made by the world's seven leading industrialized countries last Friday.

According to the minister, other countries affected by the tsunami that do not have any debt with Sweden will receive other forms of aid.

"The aim is for the countries to use their freed resources on humanitarian efforts and rebuilding. An important requirement is that all the freed resources be used to help the entire population in the affected regions," the minister said.

Nuder also said Sweden would push for generous treatment of the crisis-ridden Asian countries at a Paris Club meeting in Paris on Wednesday, where member countries are expected to propose a freeze on debt repayments from Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Sweden has pledged US$73 million in aid to countries directly affected by the tsunami.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2005)