IMF / BRIEFING

In its regular bi-monthly press briefing, the IMF said today that it will send a team to Greece early next month to meet with Greek authorities and its European partners. IMF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:40
• Production Date: 23 May 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND - IMF
• Subject Topical: ECONOMICS; ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• Geographic Subject: GREECE
• MAMS Id: U130523d

Description

STORY: IMF / BRIEFING
TRT: 1.40
SOURCE: IMF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 MAY 2013, WASHINGTON D.C.

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.

1. Exterior shot, IMF

23 MAY 2013, WASHINGTON D.C.

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“The Executive Board some time ago waived the managing director’s immunities to the extent necessary to enable her to appear before the French judicial authorities in this matter. The Managing Director herself has requested such a waiver.”
3. Cutaway, reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“The Executive Board has been briefed on this matter including recently, and continues to express its confidence in the managing director's ability to effectively carry out her duties.”
5. Cutaway, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“A staff team will start discussions in Athens with the Greek authorities and our European partners on June 4. These discussions are expected to last about two weeks and Poul Thomsen will be leading the mission," he said, referring to the IMF's mission chief to Greece.”
7. Cutaway, reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“Greece is making progress in overcoming deep-seated problems, in the midst of a serious and socially painful recession. While it will yet take some time for the country’s situation to fully normalize, the government of Greece has come a long way in its adjustment effort.”
9. Cutaway, reporters

FILE – RECENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.

10. Exterior shot, IMF

Storyline

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that it will send a team to Greece early next month to meet with Greek authorities and IMF’s European partners.

“A staff team will start discussions in Athens with the Greek authorities and our European partners on June 4. These discussions are expected to last about two weeks and Paul Thomsen will be leading the mission," Rice said, referring to the IMF's mission chief to Greece.

A meeting with IMF’s executive board will take place prior to the team’s departure to Greece, to discuss the completion of the third review of Greece’s program.

“Greece is making progress in overcoming deep-seated problems, in the midst of a serious and socially painful recession. While it will yet take some time for the country’s situation to fully normalize, the government of Greece has come a long way in its adjustment effort,” Rice said.

A question was raised regarding IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde’s court case and whether she will get diplomatic immunity, to which Rice responded “the Executive Board some time ago waived the managing director’s immunities to the extent necessary to enable her to appear before the French judicial authorities in this matter. The Managing Director herself has requested such a waiver.”

When asked whether Lagarde has the backing of the Executive Board on this matter, Rice responded that “the Executive Board has been briefed on this matter including recently, and continues to express its confidence in the managing director's ability to effectively carry out her duties.”