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Lukashenko says Belarus fully settled its 2016 international debts

Lukashenko stated that very few aspects have been left for discussion at the talks between Belarus and the IMF

© Nikolai Petrov/BelTA/TASS

MINSK, February 3. /TASS/. Belarus fully repaid its international debts due in 2016, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday at the meeting with journalists.

"I do not know why you talks about refinancing. If it is needed, we will think about it. We are going to depend on our resources," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko and the IMF

Alexander Lukashenko stated that very few aspects have been left for discussion at the talks between Belarus and the IMF.

Minsk is in talks with the IMF on attraction of a loan worth $3 bln under 2.25% for 10 years.

"We have almost no issues to discuss," he told reporters.

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Lukashenko says Belarus will go to court in oil and gas dispute with Russia

According to the president, currently the parties are discussing state-owned enterprises management and housing and communal services.

"As for managing state-owned enterprises and housing and communal services we have no problems. With regard to the IMF, they demanded a 100% pay of public utility bills in 2017. I asked them to show understanding of ours situation. Now the situation is that we cannot impose a 100-percent payment on the population," he said.

The Belarusian party insisted that this (100% payment of housing and communal services) "should be stretched in time," he added. "Now we are working on a compensation mechanism for those who cannot pay," the president said.

By the end of 2017, the Belarussian government plans to ensure that 75% of housing and communal services have been paid by the population and to ensures 100% payment by the end of 2018.

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