IMF's Boutros-Ghali says FX problems symptom not cause

Egyptian Finance Minister and Chairman of the IMFC Youssef Boutros-Ghali answers questions during the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) press briefing at the Istanbul Congress Center in this October 2009 file photo.

ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) - A meeting of Group of 20 finance leaders should not be fixated on exchange rate levels, as they are a symptom of underlying economic problems rather than a cause, the head of the International Monetary Fund's policy-steering committee told Reuters on Saturday.

Egyptian Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali, who chairs the International Monetary and Financial Committee, also said that Brazil's proposals for a tax on capital inflows were unlikely to be effective.

"We should not be fixated on currencies. Although they are important and they do impact very significantly and very quickly on various financial flows, they should be seen as the symptom of a deeper disagreement," he said on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in St Andrews, Scotland.

Boutros-Ghali said he did not expect major breakthroughs at the summit, which gathers the world's major developed and developing countries in one forum.

"The climate issue is on the table, though it was not discussed yesterday night. But I don't think anyone expects a major breakthrough. This is not a breakthrough meeting," he said.

"It is a day-to-day running of the system meeting -- how do we exit together, how do we principles that guarantee consistency in policy. This is actually a meeting where you are putting in march the machinery that you have established in London and Pittsburgh."

(Editing by Patrick Graham)