Finance Ministry to press NBP and RPP for cash to pay off debt

Yesterday, Deputy Finance Minister Ryszard Michalski told journalists he would try to convince the National Bank of Poland (NBP) and the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) to pay off the debts the country owes to the Paris Club before the loans it has with it mature. "We are waiting for them to express their opinion," Michalski explained. "The RPP must state whether such an operation is viable from their point of view. We believe it is," he continued, adding that the proposal has already been sent to the Paris Club. "If [the Club] agrees, then we will push harder on the NBP," Michalski affirmed. Maciej Krzak, chief economist at Bank Handlowy, welcomed the plan, saying that the financial markets would positively accept such a development. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B7) M.M.