-News for Sun. 31 March & Mon. 01
April 2002 IMF,
Argentina to Begin New Talks
VOA
News 1
Apr 2002 11:04 UTC

An International
Monetary Fund team is due to arrive in Argentina Monday for fresh talks about a
possible new financial aid package.
IMF officials say no
agreement is expected during the two-week mission, but may pave the way for
further aid from the international lending agency.
IMF officials say,
the mission will go to Buenos Aires in phases, with a technical team arriving
first. Members of the IMF team are expected to hold discussions with
representatives of Argentine President Eduardo Duhalde to clarify what steps
his government needs to take to qualify for additional
loans.
In December, the IMF
refused to clear a loan payment to Argentina worth more than $1 billion, saying
the government failed to control spending.The IMF had said Argentina must craft
a viable economic recovery plan to qualify for additional
assistance.
Argentina is looking
for $20 billion in international aid to help revive its economy, now in its
fourth year of recession. Continuing economic problems and more than 20 percent
unemployment have sparked political crises and street riots that cost more than
two dozen lives late last year and toppled Argentina's elected
government.
Some information
for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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