Press Release No. 10/142

Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on the Death of Poland President Lech Kaczynski

April 10, 2010

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn issued the following statement today from Cambridge, UK, on the tragic death of Poland President Lech Kaczynski:

“I have learned upon arriving in Cambridge about the crash of the Polish presidential airplane and the death of President Kaczynski and his wife, Maria Kaczynska and other senior officials, including National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek.

“I’m shocked and saddened by this terrible news. The IMF has been Poland’s friend and partner since the first stabilization program in 1989. I was in Warsaw just two weeks ago where I met with members of the Government, including President Skrzypek.

"All our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the people of Poland in this difficult time."