Ankara, IMF working on preliminary standby

State Minister Mehmet Simsek said yesterday that work is continuing on a preliminary standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport upon returning from Washington , Simsek said that he had had very fruitful meetings in the US . Simsek added that the groundwork for a standby with the IMF could soon be completed, but offered no further details.