-Caveat Lector- Russians optimistic over new IMF loan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's former prime minister and Moscow's mayor expressed optimism Saturday that a new loan deal with the International Monetary Fund would be successfully negotiated. Former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, returning from a visit to the United States, said he believed talks with the IMF under way in Moscow would reach a successful conclusion by the end of the month. Moscow's Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a favorite to succeed President Boris Yeltsin in next year's presidential elections, also said he was hopeful a loan deal would be negotiated. The government recruited Chernomyrdin to help move along talks with the IMF because he has long experience with such negotiations and good personal contacts with IMF chief Michel Camdessus and Vice President Al Gore. Russia has accumulated about $150 billion in debts to foreign lenders, and is due to pay off $17.5 billion this year. The government has already said it can't meet the obligation and is hoping that a combination of new loans and restructuring agreements will help it avoid default. Chernomyrdin, who returned Friday night, telephoned Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov on Saturday to brief him on his meeting in New York with Camdessus, the ITAR-Tass news agency said. Although Chernomyrdin pointed out he had no powers to negotiate, he said his meeting with Camdessus went well, ITAR-Tass said. Chernomyrdin was scheduled to meet early Sunday with Finance Minister Mikhail Zadornov, who is leading the Moscow talks with an IMF delegation, the Interfax news agency reported. The Russian economy plunged last August after the government defaulted on some debts when the country was hit by the global crisis in emerging markets. Yeltsin, seeking to assure the IMF that the government is taking steps to restore a sound economy, has ordered a larger state role in Russia's banking system, Interfax reported. The IMF mission in Moscow is expected to prepare a report on Russia's economic condition by March 24, when Primakov is scheduled to meet with Camdessus in Washington. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. <Picture> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
