IMF: Greece 'missed' some bailout targets

The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that Greece has failed to meet a number of targets in the IMF bailout program, insisting it is too soon to discuss revisions to the plan. "So far, some targets were met, a number were missed and in some cases we don't have enough of the data to assess" whether different measures may be open to discussion, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said. The IMF reiterated it was in discussions with the Greek authorities on the agreed IMF-EU program for 130 billion euros ($158.3 billion) in rescue financing. "We're not in the position of negotiating the program's objectives. They remain the basis for the discussion," the spokesman said at a regularly scheduled news conference. "But if there are ideas how to better achieve those objectives, we are open to that, as we are in the case of any other program." The IMF spokesman's comments came a day after the Greek coalition government reiterated its commitment to renegotiate the austerity plan agreed with its EU and IMF creditors. Rice noted that an IMF fact-finding mission had just ended in Athens and a mission was expected to return to the Greek capital on July 24, "to commence discussions on, again, how to bring the program fully back on track." The IMF will issue a report following a review of the findings, he said. "It's premature to get into which of the different measures might be open to discussion."