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Mass riots in Chisinau disrupt aid talks with IMF — PM

The donor countries as well as international financial institutions have stopped financial aid to the republic until the government signs a memorandum with the IMF

CHISINAU, September 7 /TASS/. Mass riots in the Moldovan capital are disrupting negotiations with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, which is expected to arrive in Chisinau on September 22, Moldovan Prime Minister Valery Strelets said at a meeting of a working group convened to discuss the protests in the city centre on Monday.

"We have created a working group for a dialogue and discussion of the IMF programme, which could allow Moldova to unblock relations with external partners. If certain forces have a goal to destabilize the situation, I have all grounds to say that an IMF delegation can postpone its visit once again," the prime minister said noting that in recent days the government had focused on repayment of salaries and pensions to the population.

"These problems should be solved in conditions of stability. Any other scenarios are dangerous for the country’s future," Strelets added.

An IMF delegation had to put off its visit to Chisinau in June this year over sudden resignation of the former prime minister, Kirill Gaburich.

Moldova needs an IMF development program. The donor countries as well as international financial institutions have stopped financial aid to the republic until the government signs a memorandum with the IMF. For that reason, the World Bank and the European Union have refused to allocate €40 million and €41 million, respectively, to Moldova.