Russia ready to provide loan to Belarus for nuclear station's construction - Putin
MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced Russia's readiness to allocate a loan to Belarus for the construction of a nuclear power plant.
"Russia is ready for the project's implementation. The project is large, worth around $6 billion," Putin said at a press conference following negotiations with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich.
"We are ready to decide on its loan," Putin said.
He added that the loan is being included in the final determination on the cost of the nuclear plant's construction.
Putin called on Russia's Belarusian partners to have confidence that the project's cost will be economically justified.
"Bearing in mind that the Baltic nuclear station is being built in the Kaliningrad region, it will be very easy for our Belarusian partners to board a train and see what is being done there, take a look at the cost estimates and be sure of the objectivity in the presented prices," Putin said.
He added that both sides have "moved ahead significantly" in regards to the project's cost.
Putin also said that Belarusian specialists would be active participants in the project.
"The total involvement of Belarusian specialists will be very significant, 30%-35%, maybe even 40%. This, of course, concern those areas of operation when the competence of the Belarusian specialists doesn't raise any doubts not only for us but also international organizations," Putin said.