IMF Declines Comment on Report Camdessus to Resign as Managing Director By Heidi Przybyla

IMF Spokesman Declines Comment on Report Camdessus to Resign

Washington, Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- An International Monetary Fund spokesman declined comment on reports that Michel Camdessus plans to resign as IMF managing director. ``I'm not commenting one way or the other because I don't know,'' said Graham Newman, IMF chief press officer. Newman was responding to a report today in the Independent newspaper in London that Camdessus will quit the IMF's top job by Christmas.

The Independent cited unnamed Washington sources as saying that Camdessus met with senior officials last week to tell them of his intention to resign.

Talk that Camdessus might resign circulated in Washington this week, where IMF officials were meeting. Camdessus gave the reports short shrift when asked about them at a press conference Thursday. ``I hear that (an IMF spokesman) keeps repeating that I enjoy my job,'' said Camdessus. ``I must confirm it.''

Francisco Baker, another IMF spokesman, said Camdessus has previously denied plans to step down. ``He has already denied this several times,'' he said.

Baker suggested nothing has changed since Camdessus' comments Thursday. ``You think he is going to say something Thursday and then change his mind?'' Baker said.

Camdessus, a former chairman of the European Economic Community and French finance minister, has been in his current position since 1987.

A Bank of France spokesman said he had ``no comment on the (resignation) rumors,'' which to his knowledge ``have no basis.''

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), October 03, 1999

Answers

This is odd...

``I hear that (an IMF spokesman) keeps repeating that I enjoy my job,'' said Camdessus. ``I must confirm it.''

Why is the name removed?

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), October 03, 1999.

Has anyone been keeping a list of the 'rats' as they depart ? Might make interesting reading ...

-- Dan G (earth_changes@hotmail.com), October 03, 1999.

To me, a very bad sign came last JUNE, when it was announced that MICROSOFT'S CIO was leaving for 1 year, till JUne 2000, to spend more time with his family. I realize that anyone at any time may do this, but doesn't the timing of that bother anyone?

-- profit_of_doom (doom@helltopay.ca), October 03, 1999.

To me, a very bad sign came last JUNE, when it was announced that MICROSOFT'S CIO, or CFO, was leaving for 1 year, till JUne 2000, to spend more time with his family. I realize that anyone at any time may do this, but doesn't the timing of that bother anyone?

-- profit_of_doom (doom@helltopay.ca), October 03, 1999.