Washington - "The International Monetary Fund is near a deal with the Myanmar government for a program to monitor the country?s economic plans as it struggles to reverse its place as one of the poorest countries in Asia. After decades of military rule and one of the worst human rights records in the world, the country of 48 million people is striving to remake itself as a democratic and open-market economy. To award and encourage the government in capital Naypyidaw, the country?s largest international creditors are negotiating debt relief while Myanmar lawmakers build new political and economic institutions. The IMF said Wednesday that it had reached an understanding that could form the basis of a possible staff-monitored program during January-December 2013. There would be no financial assistance involved in the program..."