Romanian Fin Min Says Not in Talks with IMF About Loan

An ongoing IMF visit to Romania, between January 27 and February 4, is a regular one and its purpose is to discuss the country's budget performance in 2008 and its economic perspectives in 2009, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website late on Wednesday.

Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea, who met the IMF mission on Tuesday, has made not commentsn so far.

On Tuesday, President Traian Basescu said Romania intends to borrow some 6.0-7.0 billion euro ($7.86-$9.2 billion) from the European Union, under the surveillance of the IMF. He declined the possibility of getting indebted to the fund itself, saying such a loan would be too expensive.

($ = 0.7631 euro)