WASHINGTON, April 9 — International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde confirmed that Greece had made a crucial €459 million (RM1.7 billion) payment to the Fund today.
“Yes, I’ve got my money back,” Lagarde replied when asked at an Atlantic Council event whether Athens had made the payment.
Lagarde confirmed the payment was made after weeks of concern in markets that the Greek government would not be able to find the money to service its IMF bailout loan.
Last Sunday, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis travelled to Washington to give Lagarde assurances that the country would make good on its debt, as Athens struggles to restructure its borrowing program with its key lenders.
Even after the IMF payment was made, questions still loomed whether the country can muster the cash necessary to make large payments in upcoming weeks to other creditors.
Athens is trying to persuade the EU and IMF to continue lending it money while easing austerity requirements in order to boost economic growth.
Experts from the IMF and the European Union are scrutinizing a list of economic reforms proposed by Athens in a bid to unlock another €7.2 billion euros in loans to stave off possible bankruptcy. — AFP
