Russia to give Belarus intergovernmental credit of $450 mln next year - Siluanov
GORKI. Dec 26 (Interfax) - Russia will extend Belarus an intergovernmental credit of $450 million at 4% per annum for a 10-year term next year, and the rest of what could be $2 billion will be provided to Belarus from non-budgetary sources, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Thursday.
Russia could lend Belarus an additional $2 billion in 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the State Council of Russia and Belarus on December 25. "The Russian government has decided to provide our partners with assistance in connection with what is taking place in the world markets, and to issue the Republic of Belarus with additional loan funds of up to $2 billion," Putin said.
"We at the government agreed today that there will next year be extended an intergovernmental credit to the Republic of Belarus and intergovernmental credit of $450 million with a budget update," Siluanov said after a government meeting.
"The bulk of the financial support to Belarus, on condition of repayment, will be up to $2 billion. The rest of the funds [other than the $450 million] - we will be looking at what we can do. This will not be budget money, it will not be money from the National Welfare Fund," the minister said.
Asked if the financial assistance might be provided in the form of SDR, Siluanov said, "Any option is possible."
As for Russia's $15 billion loan to Ukraine, Siluanov said that some of the money will be allocated from the National Welfare Fund for the purchase of securities and some from non-budgetary sources.
