Russia wants to play a bigger part in talks over solving Cyprus' financial problems but will only restructure its loan to the island if its interests there, especially those related to VTB Bank and its subsidiary Russian Commercial Bank, are protected, Moscow's finance minister said.
Russian banks and companies have poured money into Cyprus since the 1990s, taking advantage of the island's low taxes and relaxed business regulations. But many of them were caught unprepared when major account holders in two leading local banks were told they would lose a proportion of their deposits over 100,000 euros ($128,400) under a European Union bailout to save the country from bankrutpcy.
"We held general talks about the need to increase the participation of the Russian Federation in negotiations over Cyprus, since we are a creditor," Anton Siluanov told journalists on the sidelines of the Group of 20 developed and developing nations meeting in Washington.
Siluanov, who met a series of euro zone and IMF officials during the session, added he wanted to look at Russia's role in Cyprus, but in a way that "our interests are taken into account".
Russia granted Cyprus a five-year 2.5 bln euro ($3.27 bln) high-interest loan in 2011 and has said previously it was ready to restructure the terms by extending the credit and cutting the rate from 4.5% to 2.5%.
"We will deliver our support (restructuring of the loan) taking into account our interests, and our interests are that our subsidiary (the Russian Commercial Bank) should operate in normal conditions," Siluanov said.
"It does not require any bailout or financial support. Money of our companies has been frozen there. We would like this money to reach its recipients."
VTB's management sent a letter to Russia's government authorities in April asking for help in removing the restrictions on its operations in Cyprus.
"In theory, all support the early lifting of restrictions (in Cyprus)," Siluanov said, summing up his meetings with euro zone and IMF officials.
"Next week, there will be another round of talks on the issue, let's see how it will be decided."
