950805

IMF to restart

programme

in Zaire

KINSHASA: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to resume its programme in Zaire, suspended for more than a year, after studying the case presented by the finance minister, the government said on Friday.

Information Minister Masegabio Nzanzu said on state television a report presented by Finance Minister Pay Pay Wa Syakassighe "has been adopted by the IMF, which has decided to send technical aid very soon, and in two months an evaluation mission for a draft programme with Zaire, including the absorption of debt arrears to the IMF".

The huge, chaotic central African country was suspended from the IMF in June 1994, judged incapable of paying even a fraction of the arrears demanded.

All except emergency aid from foreign donors was cut off in the early 1990s, most notably by three influential countries -- the United States, Belgium and France -- exasperated at a lack of progress in both political and economic reforms.

Masegabio said: "The IMF is in the process of indicating to Zaire's bilateral partners that cooperation with the Zaire government can start straight away, since the IMF here and now agrees to work out a new programme itself with our country."-Reuter