Russia can put forward credit terms to Belarus

Russia’s government technically can grant a credit to Belarus in 2007, Russian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alexei Kudrin said Tuesday.

“The government can grant this credit. It depends on intergovernmental relations and contacts and meetings of our governments. Technically, the (Russian) government can give this facilities,” Kudrin said at the celebration of 15-year anniversary of the High School of Economy, RIA Novosti reports.

This February Belarus applied to Russia for the credit of $ 1.5 bln to pay for energy supplies.

Kudrin emphasized that the 2007 budget contains foreign credit items which define the sum for foreign credits to be granted to any country. The sum allows to give a credit of $ 1.5bln, Kudrin stated.

He didn’t comment on possible credit terms that Belarus is to face to be granted the credit in case a corresponding decision is taken.

This July Kudrin told journalists the Russian government had authorized the credit and the Ministry of Finance was working on the credit terms. Nevertheless, no final decision on this issue has been taken yet. This will be decided by the Russian government.