WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Greece is ready to issue the planned payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on April 9 and to resume policy discussions with the creditors on Monday, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said after a meeting with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis.
"Minister Varoufakis and I exchanged views on current developments and we both agreed that effective cooperation is in everyone's interest. We noted that continuing uncertainty is not in Greece's interest and I welcomed confirmation by the Minister that payment owing to the Fund would be forthcoming on April 9th," Lagarde said in a statement released on Sunday.
According to Lagarde, the IMF is committed to continue to cooperate with the Greek authorities in order to help Athens restore the country's economy.
On Friday, Greek Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas said the country had the necessary funds to meet a nearly $500 million interest payment to the IMF planned for Monday, despite earlier reports suggesting that Greece did not have the money.
The country is expected to repay another $220 million to the IMF on May 1 and $840 million on May 12.
Greece's debt to the troika of international creditors, that includes the IMF, the European Union and the European Central Bank (ECB), is estimated to be some $270 billion.
Athens and Eurozone finance ministers agreed on the extension of Greece's bailout for four months in February. As part of the deal, Greece promised to implement a range of economic reforms.
