IMF chief hopes for consensus on $400 billion rise in funds April 17, 2012 - 11:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - IMF chief Christine Lagarde hopes to gain broad consensus on a more than $400 billion rise in the fund's firepower this week, an Italian newspaper on Tuesday, April 17 quoted her as saying, though it may take some time to gain final commitments. "I really hope this week we'll reach the critical mass of more than $400 billion. We are determined to do all we can," Lagarde told financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore. "I am ready to leave the matter open for a few weeks: some countries need a little bit more time for parliamentary approval," she added. Lagarde reiterated her view that the increase needed in the IMF's firepower was now estimated to be smaller compared to when it was last assessed at end-December. "The overall risk evaluation is unchanged, but we are in April and some countries have already raised on the markets more than half of what they need for 2012, so our estimate has shrunk," she said, Reuters reported.   Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion.   Partner news |  Latest news Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals  Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation.Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan.Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush.Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |
