Russia will refinance Belarus' debt commitments to the tune of
$750-800 million, BelTA learned from First Deputy Prime Minister of
Belarus Vasily Matyushevsky on 4 April.
According to the source, a critical decision on refinancing Belarus'
debt commitments was made when Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko
and President of Russia Vladimir Putin met in Saint Petersburg on 3
April.
“The discussion touched upon the debts we have accumulated as part of
our bilateral agenda. The matter was discussed as early as last year.
Now we've revisited the matter and have been able to make the critical
decision,” noted the First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus.
“We are talking about refinancing the debt we are supposed to pay as
part of our interstate loans this year. The principal debt and the
interest rate payments we are supposed to pay make up about $750-800
million,” said Vasily Matyushevsky. “The critical decision on
refinancing the debt commitments has been made. Now the agreements are
being formalized.” The state budget will have to be amended. The Finance
Ministry and the parliament of Russia will have to do the relevant
work.
The meeting of the heads of state also touched upon Belarus'
interaction with the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development.
“Vladimir Putin was informed about the implementation of a program by
Belarus as part of arrangements with the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization
and Development, about certain issues and rough spots involved in the
program's implementation,” said the First Deputy Prime Minister of
Belarus.
In his words, those are not principal issues, they are more technical
ones. “At the level of the president of Russia we have received support
for our initiatives regarding the continuation of the program. Vladimir
Putin promised to provide assistance so that the program with the fund
would continue,” added Vasily Matyushevsky.
Written by belta.by