Russia denied Lukashenka new 100 billion ruble loan

• 26.01.2009, 10:41

Russian authorities have denied the appeal of the official Minsk to grant a new loan.

The Belarusian side stated that the loan would be granted in exchange for Belarus’ switching to Russian rubles in bilateral trade.

“They had the figure of 100 billion rubles (3 bn dollars) in the letter -- we are not even considering it," Interfax was said by Deputy Finance Minister of Russia Dmitry Pankin.

Earlier Russia agreed to grant a 2 billion dollar loan to Belarus. The first tranche of 1 billion was received in November 2008.

Pankin said that the second part of the credit is to be given after signing the join actions plan of the two countries on overcoming aftermath of the global crisis. As said by Deputy Finance Minister of Russia, this plan is being discussed at the moment.

In December “Kommersant” informed that the decision to approve 100 bn rubles loan is to depend on whether the official Minsk would recognize independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Another pre-condition was giving Gazprom controlling interest in Beltransgaz. According to the newspaper, after fulfilling these conditions, Belarus could have not only received the loan, but have reduced price for Russian gas unchanged.

According to the latest reports, the Belarusian “parliament” plans to consider the issue of recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia at the session on April 2.