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Europe
Russia rebuffs Cyprus
2013-03-22
NICOSIA/MOSCOW - Russia rebuffed Cypriot entreaties for aid on Friday, leaving the island's increasingly isolated leaders scrambling to strike a bailout deal with the European Union by next week or face the collapse of its financial system.

Nicosia angrily rejected a proposed levy on tax deposits in exchange for the EU bailout on Tuesday and turned to the Kremlin to renegotiate a loan deal, win more financing and lure Russian investors to Cypriot banks and gas reserves.

"The talks have ended as far as the Russian side is concerned," Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters after two days of crisis talks with his Cypriot counterpart, Michael Sarris.

Russians have billions of euros at stake in Cyprus's outsized and now crippled banking sector, a factor in the EU's unprecedented demand that bigger depositors take a hit in the interests of keeping Cyprus afloat.

But Siluanov said Russian investors were not interested in Cypriot gas and that the talks had ended without result. Sarris was due to fly home, where lawmakers were locked in yet more crisis talks.
Could be the Russians are holding out for a better deal. Or the Russian mafia and government (but I repeat myself) have decided that the natural gas reserves and the proposed naval base aren't worth it. Or maybe Putin doesn't have the cash.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  OTOH DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > RUSSIA SAYS DOOR STILL OPEN ON CYPRUS RESCUE DEAL.

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > [Bloomberg] ECB HANDS CYPRUS "ULTIMATUM" WID LIQUIDITY GUARANTEES.

REALTED SAME > ECB GIVES CYPRUS FUNDING DEADLINE AS NEW PLAN SOUGHT.

* TOPIX > TURKEY MAY CHALLENGE [Greek] CYPRUS' USE OF GAS RESERVES FOR BAILOUT, i.e.manipulate + facilitate the EU, IMF approval same.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-03-22 23:42  

#1  All are a possibility, Dr. Steve. But having Cyprus in the center of the Med seems like a good move in the Great Game.

It will be interesting and revealing to see what happens in the coming weeks. Maybe Pooty Poot is just making the Cyprus govt squirm while he gets a better deal....
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2013-03-22 16:35  

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