MOSCOW, July 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Finance Ministry said Thursday it planned to start talks with South Korea on the early repayment of a $1.3 billion Soviet-era debt to the Asian nation in late July.
"In late July, we plan to start talks on the repayment of the debt," Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin said.
A source in the Russian government said the date of talks was still to be agreed on with Seoul.
The Finance Ministry earlier said that under the agreement with South Korea, the debt was to be repaid by 2025. It is being proposed that the debt be paid off with commodity and arms deliveries by 2012, or in cash this or next year.
Moscow said last June it had offered Seoul dual-purpose technical equipment, such as helicopters, as an option for paying off the debt.
