By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May 12 -- The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said that Egypt has made a formal request for funds toward its $10 to $12 billion program running to June 2012.
Asked if the Greek government has sought an extension , IMF spokesperson Caroline Atkinson said “I have no news.”
Taking a question from Inner City Press, Ms. Aktinson read out “What is the status of the IMF considering South Sudan for membership, and of its program / trust fund for South Sudan?” She said she didn't have the answer, but would provide one later.
But fully three other questions submitted by Inner City Press she did not even acknowledge, on Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Haiti: “what is the IMF's estimate of how much the introduction of cholera cost the Haitian economy and people?”
That question wasn't acknowledged, despite a recent IMF self-congratulatory announcement about Haiti. Part of the Sri Lanka question was also submitted and not acknowledged two weeks ago.
So how does the IMF choose which questions to answer and acknowledge?
A question was read out from TASS, whether what John Lipsky said about the declining power of the United States is an IMF view.
No, Ms. Atkinson said, that was a projection, not an official position.
A journalist present at the IMF in DC asked what it would mean for the Fund's legitimacy if another European were chosen to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Ms. Atkinson said that DSK is in place and on the job. The reporter folllowed up, But he won't be forever.
“He once suggested he might,” Ms. Atkinson quipped. And somewhere Sarkozy smiled. Watch this site.