News Brief No. 01/88

News Brief: IMF Statement on Tragic Events in the United States

September 12, 2001

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Horst Köhler issued the following statement today:

"On behalf of the Executive Board, Management, and Staff of the International Monetary Fund, I wish to express our shock and deep sorrow at the tragic events that occurred in the United States yesterday, to express our sympathy with the United States of America, and to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families.

I have been in touch with a number of key monetary authorities around the world, and they are taking action to ensure the orderly functioning of financial markets. We can take encouragement from the fact that the monetary institutions and systems are working well, which demonstrates a fundamentally resilient international financial system. I have assured the membership of the IMF that the Fund is closely monitoring the situation, and stands ready to assist its member countries as appropriate. Our present assessment is that, despite the scale of the human tragedy, these terrible events will have only a limited impact on the international economy and global financial system."