By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May 8
-- While Ukraine
and Greece
were the
subjects of
the first six
questions
taken at the
International
Monetary
Fund's May 8
embargoed
briefing, the
IMF impacts
countries all
over the
world. Inner
City Press
submitted five
questions --
on Morocco,
Madagascar,
Pakistan,
Bosnia and
Ghana -- the
last two of
which were
read out and
answered
during the
briefing. Video here,
filmed from
IMF webcast
while at UN
Security
Council
stakeout
On
Ghana, Inner
City Press
asked: the
Secretary-General
of the Trades
Union Congress
Kofi Asamoah
spoke out on
May Day
against the
government
seeking an IMF
program. What
does the IMF
make of it,
and would the
IMF consult
with such
opponents if a
program were
requested?
IMF
spokesperson
Gerry Rice
said that
Ghana has yet
to formally
request a
program -
there is a lot
of discussion
in the country
about it,
though. The
IMF Board
after its
discussion of
the Article IV
review will
have a press
release in due
course. He
added that the
IMF speaks
with a range
of people, and
has spoken
with the
Trades Union
Congress in
the past.
On
Bosnia, Inner
City Press
asked what
steps would
the IMF
require to
unfreeze the
next tranche
of its
stand-by
program? Does
the IMF have
any comment on
the
Federation's
May 6 auction
of 6-month
treasury
bills?
The
IMF's
spokesperson
Rice's answer
was long, so
with the
embargo
expired we are
uploading the
video here,
filmed from
the IMF
webcast while
at the UN
Security
Council
stakeout:
Rice said the
fifth review
was completed;
the decision
by the
Parliament to
delay
decisions
including
excises on
different on
tobacco
products has
delayed
completion of
the staff
review. To go
forward, full
implementation
of the prior
actions is
needed.
Inner
City Press
also asked:
In
Pakistan, PTI
Information
Secretary KPK
and MNA Ayesha
Gulalai has
said, “it is
very
unfortunate
that
Pakistan's
budget is
being prepared
by the IMF in
Dubai..
instead of
taxing the 4
million
wealthy
identified by
the FBR,
burden is
being passed
on to the
already
burdened
masses.” What
is the IMF's
response?
On
Madagascar,
when George
Tsibouris on
May 6 said the
government
agreed to
"address the
issue of fuel
price
subsidies over
time," can you
be more
specific on
how much time
the IMF
envisions?
Also, can the
IMF be more
specific about
what is
referred to by
"creating a
level playing
field for the
private
sector"?
While
the Managing
Director is in
Morocco, can
you answer if
Western Sahara
is included by
the IMF in
Morocco's
data, and what
impact the IMF
believes the
Western Sahara
issue has on
Morocco's
economy and
economic
prospects?
This
last one,
Inner City
Press
also asked two
weeks ago,
and again more
recently on
connection
with the IMF's
Ukraine
program. Watch
this site.
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