IMF MISSION TO LITHUANIA.

The third IMF mission to Lithuania this year has concluded its work. IMF officials declared that no final conclusions will be drawn until a new government is formed by the Conservative party, which won the elections on October 20. A central topic in the discussions between IMF officials and Lithuanian authorities was the plan announced by the conservatives to end the currency board system. The IMF believes that a quick unpegging of the lit: dollar relationship could provoke financial instability. (Baltic News Service, October 31)

Ukraine Gets First Major Japanese Investment.