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IMF / GREECE NIGERIA CHINA
STORY: IMF / GREECE NIGERIA CHINA
TRT: 1:35
SOURCE: IMF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2017, WASHINGTON DC / RECENT
RECENT – WASHINGTON, DC
1. Wide shot, exterior IMF headquarters
23 FEBRUARY 2017, WASHINGTON DC
2. Med shot, dais
3. Wide shot, presser
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, International Monetary Fund (IMF):
“I think the good news is the progress that was made this week. I think the good news is that the mission is going back, the good news is there's going to be the discussions, and we have to let those discussions play out. And I think everyone is entering into these discussions with the best will possible to try and do, you know, what is in the best interest of Greece and the Greek people.”
5. Med shot, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, International Monetary Fund (IMF):
“In the latest ESR, the External Sector Report, and Article IV consultation with China, we assessed that China’s currency was broadly in line with fundamentals, and as usual, an updated assessment of China’s exchange rate will be forthcoming in the summer of this year.”
7. Med shot, reporter
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, International Monetary Fund (IMF):
“The Nigerian authorities have not approached the IMF for a program, have not. As such, there are no discussions or negotiations going on regarding a program with Nigeria. However, and again, as we have said before, the Fund continues to provide technical assistance and have a productive dialogue with the authorities, and we stand ready to help should the country make a request for financial assistance.”
9. Wide shot, reporters
IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington the Fund is pleased with the result of negotiations with the Eurogroup over how to proceed on the Greek bailout and announced that a mission to Athens will proceed next week.
He said “I think the good news is that the mission is going back, the good news is there's going to be the discussions, and we have to let those discussions play out.”
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and those talks were wide-ranging and productive, the IMF said. Among the topics was an agreement that welcomed the Greek authorities’ decision to invite teams back to Athens to resume program discussions and make progress on the second review of the ESM Program.
“And I think everyone is entering into these discussions with the best will possible to try and do what is in the best interest of Greece and the Greek people,” Rice added while saying that the final form of additional aid to Athens is still to be determined and will need to be contingent on the “two legs” of policies and debt relief.
Lagarde also spoke with incoming US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin this week by phone, where one topic of discussion was China’s currency policies.
Rice noted the IMF conducts annual surveys of members exchange rate policies as a core mission.
He said, “In the latest ESR, the External Sector Report, and Article IV consultation with China, we assessed that China’s currency was broadly in line with fundamentals, and as usual, an updated assessment of China’s exchange rate will be forthcoming in the summer of this year as part of the next ESR and Article IV consultation with China.”
Rice also told reporters Nigeria has not asked for a debt-relief program from the IMF at this point. But the Fund urges Nigeria to step up economic reforms and warned that the “window for bold reforms is closing.”
He added, “The Fund continues to provide technical assistance and have a productive dialogue with the authorities, and we stand ready to help should the country make a request for financial assistance.”
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