Buenos Aires  - Argentina on Wednesday agreed to allow the International Monetary Fund to evaluate its economy, ending a years long break with the emergency lender.

Economic and Finance Minister Amado Boudou and IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn reached an agreement on the sidelines of World Bank and IMF meetings in Istanbul, Argentine media reported.

Boudou said the move marked Argentina's return to the global economic stage after years of distancing itself after its economic collapse earlier this decade. He stressed however that the IMF will not be allowed to interfere in internal economic and political discussions within Argentina.

"We want to return to the international financial market. There are different aspects to consider but none of them has to do with a change in Argentina's economic policies," he said.

Argentina broke off all ties with the IMF months after paying off its debt to the lender in a lump sum in 2005. The IMF was accused of exacerbating Argentina's economic crisis by imposing harsh conditions on its loans. (dpa)