BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/12/2008

Belarus forex reserves decline to $4.544 bln

MINSK, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Belarus's foreign exchange reserves fell to $4.544 billion as of Dec. 1 from $4.801 billion at the beginning of November, despite receiving a $1 billion loan from Russia, according to central bank data made public on Friday.

Reserves of the ex-Soviet state have been falling steadily since August when authorities began supporting the Belarussian rouble, pressured against the dollar by the global financial crisis.

Reserves stood at $3.4 billion on Nov. 1, 2007.

"At a time when currency revenues of our enterprises are getting smaller, the central bank must ensure the stability of the national currency," central bank spokesman Anatoly Drozdov told Reuters.

The Belarussian rouble has slipped to 2,174 to the dollar from 2,111 in September.

Belarus is currently engaged in discussions with the International Monetary Fund on a $2 billion loan authorities describe as a "safety cushion". A new mission is due to arrive in the ex-Soviet state later this month.

(Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; Editing by Victoria Main)

Source:

http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=7055847&subject=economic&action=article

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