ZAGREB, Dec 20 (Hina) - The Croatian government and an International Monetary Fund delegation on Wednesday reached a preliminary agreement on the signing of a stand-by arrangement worth 200 million special drawing rights.
ZAGREB, Dec 20 (Hina) - The Croatian government and an
International Monetary Fund delegation on Wednesday reached a
preliminary agreement on the signing of a stand-by arrangement
worth 200 million special drawing rights.#L#
The preliminary agreement was reached after numerous talks with the
Croatian government and the Croatian People's Bank, delegation
head Hans Flickenschild told a joint press conference with Prime
Minister Ivica Racan.
Flickenschild said the final agreement could be signed towards the
end of February, after all materials were submitted to head
committees at the IMF.
Prime Minister Racan said the agreement provided Croatia with IMF's
support for a "difficult, not easy economic programme to overcome
the crisis, for development and new jobs."
"The talks were long and fruitful... I would like to express my
satisfaction with the impending stand-by arrangement," he said.
"We have received a Christmas present, but it is a present we will
have to work on a lot," said Racan, adding it represented "the
realisation of the government's programme, coming out of the crisis
and achieving economic development."
"We are conscious of our obligations, but also of the desire to make
use of the historical opportunity Croatia has, and to show that in a
few years, Croatia can become a stable, developed and prosperous
country," Racan concluded.
(hina) ha