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IMF supporting Russia’s agenda in G20, says Lagarde

She hopes to have a meeting in a few days’ time at Davos, Switzerland, with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

WASHINGTON, January 17 (Itar-Tass) – International Monetary Fund supports Russia’s agenda at the Group of Twenty leading powers of the world, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde told a news conference that was held on the occasion of the new year at the headquarters of the Fund in Washington.

She hopes to have a meeting in a few days’ time at Davos, Switzerland, with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. A question on whether or not Lagarde would like to change something in Russia’s plans for a term the G20 rotating presidency arose in the context of that meeting.

She said she would not like to change anything as the regards the venues of the forthcoming negotiations, adding that she is looking forward to the trips to Moscow and St Petersburg.

The timing of the conferences has also been chosen appropriately, as the weather in St Petersburg should be warm then.

As for the working agenda formulated by Russia, Largade believes the Russians have focused it on absolutely correct issues, like the ways of returning to a steady growth in world economy, creation of sufficient numbers of jobs, finalization of financial sector reforms, and the maintenance of active cooperation among the G20 member-states on the basis of the reciprocal assessment process under the auspices of the IMF.

The IMF is ready to support Russia’s presidency in work along all of these guidelines, Lagarde said.

The first conference of the G20 finance ministers chaired by Russia is due to be held in Moscow February 15 and February 16, while the G20 summit is due to take place in St Petersburg September 5 and September 6.