Belarus-Russia negotiations on loan allocation have entered an active phase

April 19, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. Negotiations between Belarus and Russia on the allocation of a stabilization loan have entered an active phase, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus Nikolai Luzgin told reporters today, BelTA has learned. "Currently, Belarus and Russia are holding consultations, they have entered an active phase," Nikolai Luzgin said. According to him, last week experts held negotiations in Russia. Now, there is an exchange of information, comparison of positions, and discussion of forecasts for the development of the Belarusian economy. "This week, experts are going to Moscow again, and on Friday it is planned to continue the meeting at the level of deputy heads of key ministries of Belarus and Russia," he added. The First Deputy Head of the National Bank recalled that Russia, as the main donor of the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund, has expressed its readiness to facilitate the allocation of a stabilization loan to Belarus through this anti-crisis fund. Currently, the Russian side is supporting Belarus in preparing a program of reforms for the Belarusian economy. "This program of measures, based on the structural restructuring of the Belarusian economy, should solve the problem of the negative balance of foreign trade," he said. Together with the provision of financial resources from the EurAsEC anti-crisis fund, this will help stabilize the situation on the domestic foreign exchange market. Nikolai Luzgin emphasized that one of Belarus's strategic goals is to preserve and increase gold and foreign exchange reserves. -0-