Russian ambassador not sure Belarus to get a loan from Russia this year
Russian Ambassador in Minsk Alexander Surikov is not confident that Russia will give Belarus a stabilization loan by the end of this year. At the same time, he recommended the Belarusian finance ministry to deal with this issue more actively. Surikov admitted that there were formal grounds for issuing this loan, because Belarus revised its budget in October, saying it had a deficit.
A stabilization loan is issued exclusively for the stabilization of economy if there are relevant conditions like the budget deficit, reports Interfax.
Media reported earlier quoting an anonymous source in the Russian finance ministry that in September-October 2007 Russian finance officials were going to propose amendments in the Russian budget in order to secure funds for the Belarus loan.
Belarus Finance Minister Mikalay Korbut said recently that Belarus was still counting on receiving $1 billion as a stabilization loan from Russia by the end of this year.
Belarus sought to receive additional $500 million in 2008, saying it had been agreed on with the Russian finance ministry "in the working order".
A stabilization loan is issued exclusively for the stabilization of economy if there are relevant conditions like the budget deficit, reports Interfax.
Media reported earlier quoting an anonymous source in the Russian finance ministry that in September-October 2007 Russian finance officials were going to propose amendments in the Russian budget in order to secure funds for the Belarus loan.
Belarus Finance Minister Mikalay Korbut said recently that Belarus was still counting on receiving $1 billion as a stabilization loan from Russia by the end of this year.
Belarus sought to receive additional $500 million in 2008, saying it had been agreed on with the Russian finance ministry "in the working order".
