24 Jun 2004

Nauru government passes budget

2:09 pm on 24 June 2004

The new president of Nauru, Ludwig Scotty, says parliament has passed the country's long-delayed budget.

The Government of Rene Harris was toppled this week after Finance Minister Kinza Clodumar switched allegiance, ending more than two months of a parliamentary impasse.

Mr Scotty says the new stability has led to the budget finally being passed.

The Nauru parliament was under pressure to present budgets because they had to be processed by the end of the financial year on the 30th June.

The government has said the next priority is refinancing their loan to General Electric Corporation.

The country owes 165 million US dollars in debt.