In an interview today with Miguel Guerrero on CDN TV and radio morning talk show, Technical Secretary to the Presidency Carlos Despradel confirmed the completion of the technical phase of negotiations with the IMF. He said that he is optimistic the agreement would be signed in January, thus enabling the country to resume access to the US$600-million aid package agreed upon last August. In September 2003, the country received an initial US$120 million, but subsequent disbursements were suspended after the government took on comparable debt to buy back the power distributors. Despradel called the decision to repurchase the distributors without consulting the IMF a mistake. He said the Finance Ministry acted unilaterally, without the participation of his office or the Central Bank.