* IMF Firm on Bulgaria's Restricted Fiscal Spending* _2005-09-01_ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Leader for Bulgaria Hans Flickenschild has completed a visit here meant to introduce him with the new government and its fiscal policy.
Last meeting on Thursday was held with Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski who discussed with the Fund's officials the enforcement of the measures as laid down in Bulgaria's agreement with the IMF.
Earlier the same day Flickenshild met with Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev. "A natural disaster supplies no grounds for excess budget spending," Hans Flickenshild told journalists after the meeting.
He encouraged Bulgarian authorities to continue with the efforts to overcome the aftermath of recent devastating floods, but demanded for restriction of the amount spent on after-floods reconstruction.
Under its latest agreement with the IMF, Bulgaria has committed to achieving a 1% budgetary surplus in 2005. Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski, however, has warned flood costs could keep the country from meeting that target.
The next mission of the IMF to Bulgaria is scheduled in the middle of October.