Belarus requests loan up to USD 2 bln from EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund

MINSK, February 17 (Itar-Tass) -- The Belarusian government has filed
an application for a loan of up to two billion U.S. dollars from the
Anti-Crisis Fund of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).
"The government is considering the possibility of borrowing up to two billion U.S. dollars from the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund," Vice Prime
Minister Sergei Rumas said.
Finance Minister Andrei Kharkovets said the Anti-Crisis Fund's
executive bodies are considering the application and will hopefully give an answer in March.
The Anti-Crisis Fund earlier elaborated lending rules. The maximum
loan will depend on the national GDP. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan earlier requested financial assistance from the fund. Russia and Kazakhstan said they would not make such borrowings in the near future.
The Anti-Crisis Fund will issue loans at a rate of 1-3 percent for
countries with low incomes. Loans will be issued for up to 20 years with a five-year grace period.
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Armenia are Anti-Crisis Fund members.

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