-Caveat Lector- IMF Team To Visit Moscow Next Week MOSCOW (AP) -- An International Monetary Fund mission will arrive in Moscow next week for extended talks about Russia's economic woes and the possibility of resuming aid. The delegation is expected to arrive next Wednesday and stay until Feb. 5 or Feb. 8, the Interfax news agency reported. The IMF's chief representative in Moscow couldn't immediately be reached for comment. The visit will be longer than usual because the group will also be preparing its annual report on Russia's economic performance, Interfax said. Russia desperately wants IMF loans, but at the same time accuses the fund of doling out bad financial advice along with its money. Russian officials blame the IMF for the nation's economic turmoil. Russia's Finance Minister Mikhail Zadornov refused to speculate Wednesday on when Russia may get more IMF money, but said the government wanted it ``the sooner the better.'' A $22.6 billion aid package for Russia put together by the IMF this summer was frozen after the government defaulted on some of its debts and devalued the currency in August. Since then, the IMF has been demanding a sound economic recovery program as a condition for resuming aid. Russia's coffers are so bare that the national budget for this year is only $26 billion -- less than what the U.S. government spends in a typical week. Meanwhile, Russia faces $17.5 billion in foreign debt payments this year. The government said Tuesday that it planned to pay just $4.6 billion of the total. 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
