Brasília, February 13, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The deputy director of the Western Hemisphere Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Charles Collyns, who is accompanying the Fund's mission to Brazil, classified as "sensible" the monetary policy adopted by Brazil.

He made this assessment yesterday (12), following a meeting that lasted about an hour between representatives of the mission and the president of the Central Bank, Henrique Meirelles. After the meeting with Meirelles, the IMF mission also met with the directors of the Departments of Economic Policy, Afonso Beviláqua, International Affairs, Alexandre Schwartsman, Special Studies, Eduardo Loyo, and Monetary Policy, Luiz Augusto Candiota, as well as the head of the Economic Department, Altamir Lopes.

Today the group, which is in Brazil for the first review of the US$ 14.8 billion stand-by agreement signed with the Fund last year, will participate in meetings in the Ministry of Finance. The IMF mission is expected to remain in the country until next Tuesday (17). (DAS)