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STORY: IMF / BRIEFING
TRT: 2.04
SOURCE: IMF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 DECEMBER 2012, WASHINGTON, DC / FILE
FILE - RECENT, WASHINGTON, DC
1. Wide shot, exterior IMF
13 DECEMBER 2012, WASHINGTON, DC
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“The package agreed in Brussels today including the debt buyback programme will deliver substantial debt reductions to Greece and as you know, Greece's European partners have stated that they will find a way to deliver on the commitments of the Euro Group to ensure the financing remains adequate and debt remains on a sustainable track.”
3. Cutaway, reporters
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“She has welcomed the Euro Group decision today. We think this decision is important for Greece and to remind ourselves of the big objective here is to help Greece get back on the sustainable path for growth, for jobs and the debt sustainability is key to that of course.”
5. Cutaway, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“We believe that the steps being taken are the right steps to put Italy on the path to growth, sustainability, jobs and the key is implementation now.”
7. Cutaway, reporters
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, Spokesman, IMF:
“On Egypt, as you mentioned, at the request of the Egyptian authorities there has been a postponement of the board date. We continue to be in close contact with the authorities. We stand ready to consult with them on the resumption of discussions regarding the standby arrangement. And once these discussions are completed, the next steps can be determined accordingly.”
FILE - RECENT, WASHINGTON, DC
9. Exterior IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today (13 December) welcomed the Eurogroup’s approval to pay out 49 billion euros in loans.
IMF spokesman Gerry Rice noted that euro-area finance ministers have committed to not letting Greece’s debt exceed a target of 124 percent of its gross domestic product by 2020.
“The package agreed in Brussels today including the debt buyback programme will deliver substantial debt reductions to Greece and as you know, Greece's European partners have stated that they will find a way to deliver on the commitments of the Euro Group to ensure the financing remains adequate and debt remains on a sustainable track,” Rice said.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said this morning that she would recommend the IMF Executive Board disburse the next tranche of aid to Greece as well.
“She has welcomed the Euro Group decision today. We think this decision is important for Greece and to remind ourselves of the big objective here is to help Greece get back on the sustainable path for growth, for jobs and the debt sustainability is key to that of course.”
Rice was also asked about concerns about Italian political stability. He said that Prime Minister Mario Monti has put Italy on the right path and the next step was for Italy to implement its economic plans.
“We believe that the steps being taken are the right steps to put Italy on the path to growth, sustainability, jobs and the key is implementation now,” Rice said.
On Egypt, Rice said that the IMF remains in discussion with the authorities and that no new board date has been set.
“On Egypt, as you mentioned, at the request of the Egyptian authorities there has been a postponement of the board date. We continue to be in close contact with the authorities. We stand ready to consult with them on the resumption of discussions regarding the standby arrangement. And once these discussions are completed, the next steps can be determined accordingly,” Rice said.
Egypt had reached a preliminary agreement with the Fund on a programme, but last week, the government asked the IMF Executive Board to postpone its decision to allow more time for a public conversation about tax increases.
