IMF managing director Horst Kohler visits Moscow

Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Horst Kohler will pay a short working visit to Moscow to discuss prospects of cooperation between Russia and the IMF with the Russian leadership, said the IMF press service in Washington.

Kohler arrives in Russia from Kyrgyzstan he visited during his tour of the Central Asian and North Caucasian countries. The IMF underscored that Kohler's tour shows the importance the Fund attaches to relations with the countries of that region.

In particular, the IMF said, when visiting Moscow, Kohler will have a chance to discuss Russia's prospects of cooperation with the countries of the region.

As of January 1, 2003, Russia's total debt to the IMF was estimated at 6.4 billion dollars. In 2003, the country plans to pay the Fund some 2.2 billion dollars.

On October 31, Russia made a regular payment ahead of schedule in two currencies: 11,253,700 euros and 14,846,900 dollars, said the Russian Finance Ministry.

According to the schedule, the next payment will be made on November 20.