OREANDA-NEWS. May 24, 2011. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is ready to consider Belarus’ possible request for a new loan as part of a new country program, IMF Resident Representative in Belarus Natalia Koliadina stated.

“The authorities have not requested a Fund program. If Belarus makes such a request, the Fund will consider it.”

“As indicated in the PIN (summing up of the Board discussion) “any future financial arrangement should be accompanied by a credible commitment to strong stability-oriented policies and an ambitious structural reform agenda”.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Russia only considered a USD 1 billion loan for Belarus from the EurAsEC Bailout Fund, and had no plans to provide a government loan. He advised the Belarusian authorities to request a loan from the IMF or other international institutions.