November 17, 2000

The International Monetary Fund has decided to extend the term of its resident representative in Uzbekistan, Mr. Christoph Rosenberg, until April 2001. He was originally scheduled to leave in January 2001.

The extension of Mr. Rosenberg’s term is in response to assurances from the government of Uzbekistan and the CBU that serious economic reforms are to be initiated very soon, and to their request for assistance from Mr. Rosenberg. A replacement for Mr. Rosenberg will be posted to Uzbekistan as soon as the authorities put in place a Fund-supported program.

An IMF mission headed by Mr. Leif Hansen, Division Chief in the IMF’s European II Department, is currently visiting Tashkent to conduct the annual Article IV consultations.