Brasília, 2/12/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - An International Monetary Fund mission, led by Phil Gerson, the head of the Atlantic Division of the Western Hemisphere Department, has arrived in Brasília. They will undertake the first revision of the US$14.8 billion preventive agreement reached at the end of last year.

The agreement is scheduled to remain in effect until February 2005. Minister of Finance, Antonio Palocci, has announced that Brazil will withdraw funds under this agreement only in the case of extreme necessity. (AB)