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Moscow pledges more loans for Belarus

Russia will continue supporting and helping Belarus, including through loans, Ambassador Aleksandr Surikov told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday, as quoted by BelaPAN.

The diplomat stressed that Russia was not going to "buy Belarus' loyalty." "After the Soviet Union's break-up we became independent states but preserved certain continuity in the sphere of energy deliveries. In 2006 we decided that it's time to switch over to equal relations," he said.

Referring to Minsk's constant calls for reducing the price of energy resources supplied by Russia, Mr. Surikov noted that "we are not asking [Belarus] to sell us milk and tractors at lower prices."

The ambassador said that work was underway to iron out bilateral differences over trade in energy resources. "There are energy resources, we must build reasonable relations up to joint business, so that it is beneficial for both sides," he noted.

At the same time Surikov said, Russia may walk away from the construction of Belarus' first-ever nuclear plant if the project is financed with China's loan. "If the Chinese finance the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, I have doubts as to whether Russia will participate," he warned.

"We don't want to share with young Chinese firms. One must buy new technologies, while the Chinese, it seems to me, would like to spy them out. If they take part, the Russian side will propose reviewing certain aspects," the diplomat said.

In particular, he said, Russia could build the plant itself, while the infrastructure around the facility could be constructed by "another party."

Mr. Surikov said that Minsk and Moscow were in talks on a contract for the construction of the plant. "The price of the construction is being discussed so far," he said.

Russia's was selected by the Belarusian government as the prime contractor for its nuclear power plant project in early 2009. Minsk earlier announced its plans to secure a Russian loan for the ambitious project.