Gronkiewicz-Waltz says no decrease in interest rates likely in Q1 of 2001

National Bank of Poland (NBP) president Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz said on Friday in Paris that she sees little likelihood of a decrease in interest rates within the first quarter of 2001. She did say, however, this might be possible within the first six months of 2001. Meanwhile, President Aleksander Kwasniewski is to meet with leaders of the main political parties this week to discuss candidates to replace outgoing NBP president Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, who is leaving the post for a senior position at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Former Finance Minister, Leszek Balcerowicz, together with two members of the central bank's rate council, Boguslaw Grabowski and Dariusz Rosati, and the President's chief economic adviser, Marek Belka, are considered the front runners . (Prawo i Gospodarka, p.9; Reuters) A.D.