Mr.Seibert answered questions regarding the IMF's participation in Greece;s bailout program. His answer was that “it is not just a practice which has born fruit, it is also legally founded in the various legal documents concerning the ESM program and the E.U. framework such as the Eurogroup declaration which was backed by both the IMF and Greece”.

The spokesman of the German FinMin, Friedrike Von Tiensenhausen, stressed that “the position of the government is the one that has been expressed in the Aug.14 Eurogroup-we desire the participation of the IMF in the current program”, she also added that the document includes the term “indispensable” which makes everything clear.

When asked about the possible effects of a withdrawal of the IMF from the program, she refrained from taking a position while she stressed that the decision of the Fund is still expected. “We are now in close to the first installment of the bailout deal. We must accept that not everything will be completed within the year so as to start the evaluation process but we will go into next year. The IMF itself has made it abundantly clear that after this evaluation it will state its decision. I don't want to speculate at the moment, let us wait”.  

Moscovici: The IMF's participation is necessary

The commissioner for Monetary and Financial Issues, P.Moscovici clearly stated his  position for the involvement of the IMF in the Greek program. He also stated that under no circumstances does he want to see a conflict over the role of the IMF in Greece.

C.N.