Egypt's need for IMF deal "paramount", Kerry saysMarch 2, 2013 - 21:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt's need to reach a loan deal with the IMF is "paramount", U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday, March 2, according to Reuters. Kerry also said he was certain that U.S. cooperation with Egypt can only happen if Cairo makes the right fundamental choices regarding the International Monetary Fund. Egypt said on Thursday it would invite an IMF team to reopen talks on a $4.8 billion loan, and the Investment Minister Osama Saleh expressed hope that a deal could be done by the end of April. "It is paramount, essential, urgent that the Egyptian economy get stronger, that it gets back on its feet," Kerry told Egyptian and U.S. Executives in Cairo. "It's clear to us that the IMF arrangement needs to be reached, that we need to give the market that confidence." The Muslim Brotherhood government of President Mohamed Mursi agreed the loan in principle last November but it was put on hold at Cairo's request during street violence the following month that flared in protest at a planned rise in taxes. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life, Strong Mind IDBank and Idram summarize the results of the May program of “The Power of One Dram”. Yerevan State University, Ucom sign Memorandum of Cooperation Rector of Yerevan State University Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian signed the memorandum. EU to provide budgetary support to Armenia The agreement is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the educational system of Armenia. Aliyev: No peace treaty unless Armenia changes constitution Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty with Armenia unless the latter changes its constitution, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. |