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NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus' finance minister says new bond issues will save the country money by helping to pay off the remainder of a 2.5 billion-euro ($2.8 billion) Russian loan more quickly.
Harris Georgiades told state radio Thursday the combined interest rate from the five-year bond issue and Cyprus' first-ever 30-year issue is under 2%, meaning the country will pay less and have more time to repay.
Cyprus still owes Russia 1.56 billion euros ($1.75 billion). It got the loan with a 2.5% interest rate amid a 2012 financial crisis.
Cyprus on Wednesday secured 500 million euros from its five-year bond issued at a 0.625% rate. The 30-year issue raised 750 million euros at 2.75%.
Georgiades said Cyprus wants to take advantage of an early repayment clause in its loan deal with Russia.
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