RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER CONFIDENT ON IMF TALKS.

Before his departure for Washington yesterday, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin sought to dispel rumors that Russia’s negotiations with the IMF for a three-year, $9 billion loan were not going well due to recent Russian cabinet changes — particularly the dismissal of reformer Anatoly Chubais — and President Yeltsin’s capitulation to expensive social welfare interests. Chernomyrdin told journalists in Moscow that any problems being encountered in the negotiations concerned conditions, not credit, and could be overcome. In the past several days, both Russian and IMF officials have denied that doubts about Russia’s reform intentions are jeopardizing the talks. (5)

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