Russia to make next payment to IMF

Russian Finance Ministry has reserved EUR26,238,860 to make the nextpayment on Russia's debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sincethe date of payment, according to the original schedule, is August 25, aweekend, the payment will be made in advance on Friday, August 23, it wasstressed by the Finance Ministry. This payment is the third in August 2002.In total Russia will have to pay around $1.5bn on its debt to the IMF thisyear. According to the Finance Ministry's preliminary data, Russia's debtto the IMF was $7.7bn as of January 1, 2002..