IMF mission will come to Moldova when new government is formed

September 21, 2009

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An International Monetary Fund mission will arrive in Chisinau shortly after the formation of new Government, candidate for premiership, Liberal Democratic Party leader MP Vlad Filat stated to the press after the Parliament's plenary sitting last week.

He showed the journalists a letter that came from the IMF on Friday morning. Filat presumes the Fund may well resume its crediting of Moldova already in mid-November.

Vlad Filat refuted media stories that the IMF is allegedly insisting on tough measures, such as e.g. on reducing the staffs of civil servants, saying, "The International Monetary Fund never put forward such demands. This international financial structure puts conditions on budget parameters. If the Communist Government failed to meet IMF budget parameters otherwise than through firings, well, this should be on their conscience. We shall not be resorting to such measures".

He failed to provide any information about the credits, which the Governments of China [US$1 billion] and of Russia [US$500 million] had reportedly promised to the Moldovan Communist authorities earlier this year.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Budget and Finance, Veaceslav Ionita (LDPM), pointed out it is the first instance when the IMF has accepted a letter on cooperation with a country that was signed by Parliament Chairman, not Prime Minister. He believes this is a sign that the Fund stands ready to provide assistance to Moldova.

Ionita thinks that it is quite realistic to expect from the IMF some US$300-500 million at the first stage, and that restoration of relations with the International Monetary Fund should permit resuming dialog with other donor organizations.

Infotag