Russia Is Not Negotiating Early Debt Repayment With Paris Club

At the present time, Russia is not holding negotiations with members of the Paris Club on the precise amounts and time limits for paying its foreign debt, Alexei Kudrin, Vice-Premier and Finance Minister of Russia, told a news conference on Wednesday. At present, "only possible scenarios which could be subscribed to by Paris Club members are at issue," he specified. At the same time, Kudrin recalled that the Club announced the terms of debt redemption for all creditors taking a single approach. That's why only the possibility of early repayment is being discussed, the Vice-Premier added. According to him, this may mean talk of both deliveries of goods and using the "debts-for-investments" scheme. If Russia resorts to early repayment, then the question of a reduced market value of debt will be at issue, Kurdin said.