Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08REYKJAVIK242
2008-10-20 18:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:
ICELANDIC ECONOMIC CRISIS: RUSSIAN LOAN STILL ON TABLE, IMF
how-toVZCZCXRO9827 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRK #0242 2941800 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201800Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3854 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L REYKJAVIK 000242
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/FO A/S Dan Fried
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC ECONOMIC CRISIS: RUSSIAN LOAN STILL ON TABLE, IMF
ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT
Classified By: DCM Neil Klopfenstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L REYKJAVIK 000242
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/FO A/S Dan Fried
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC ECONOMIC CRISIS: RUSSIAN LOAN STILL ON TABLE, IMF
ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT
Classified By: DCM Neil Klopfenstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) Sturla Palsson, Director of International Affairs and Markets
at the Icelandic Central Bank and leader of the recent Icelandic
delegation to Moscow to negotiate a 4 billion Euro loan from Russia,
told Econoff that the Russian loan was still very much on the table
and that both sides are keeping in telephone and email contact.
Palsson said the two sides might meet possibly this week, and thought
that the loan could be finalized by Friday. He said before the
Icelandic delegation left for Moscow, they had been told by the
Russian Ambassador to Iceland that the Russian Prime Minister had
signed off on the loan. The discussions in Moscow centered around
details such as whether the money would be given as a bond or loan,
and what the maturity dates would be, etc. The loan would be coming
from the Russian Development Agency. Palsson said that Iceland is
considering IMF assistance and that initially the Russians had been
against Iceland involving the IMF "because of the Russians' own
negative experience with the IMF in 1997." However, Palsson said
that the Russians could see the business value of involving the IMF
because it could "bring in others" (presumably other nations with
cash) which could create confidence in the Icelandic krona and the
Icelandic economy.
2. (C) Palsson emphasized that the meetings in Moscow were to inform
Russia what Iceland planned to do with the 4 billion Euro. He said
that it would be used to "kick start things" and provide foreign
liquidity. With bigger Central Bank reserves, foreign account
holders of Icelandic krona would be less likely to cash out. Palsson
acknowledged that Russia has its own financial problems, especially
with the dropping price of oil, but said the Russian 500+ billion
Euros in reserves would cover an Icelandic loan. Regarding the
question of "why ask Russia for a loan and not the U.S.", Palsson
replied that "feelers" had been put out by the government and only
the Russians responded positively. Palsson said that Iceland had
been in discussions with "others" and with sovereign wealth funds and
that the feedback has been positive, but did not elaborate further.
3. (C) Both the Finance Minister and Prime Minister's offices said
that this afternoon's FT.com's article that reported Iceland's 6
billion euro IMF agreement was imminent was unconfirmed. The
assistant to the Finance Minister said that the Letter of Intent with
the IMF had not yet been signed and that final figures had not been
confirmed. About an hour later, however, the same assistant emailed
Econoff to say that an announcement about the IMF would be likely
made tomorrow.
4. (C) Comment: Icelanders are aware that a loan from the Russians
may have implications. The fact that they are proceeding anyway is
an indication of the seriousness of the financial situation here.
VAN VOORST
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/FO A/S Dan Fried
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC ECONOMIC CRISIS: RUSSIAN LOAN STILL ON TABLE, IMF
ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT
Classified By: DCM Neil Klopfenstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) Sturla Palsson, Director of International Affairs and Markets
at the Icelandic Central Bank and leader of the recent Icelandic
delegation to Moscow to negotiate a 4 billion Euro loan from Russia,
told Econoff that the Russian loan was still very much on the table
and that both sides are keeping in telephone and email contact.
Palsson said the two sides might meet possibly this week, and thought
that the loan could be finalized by Friday. He said before the
Icelandic delegation left for Moscow, they had been told by the
Russian Ambassador to Iceland that the Russian Prime Minister had
signed off on the loan. The discussions in Moscow centered around
details such as whether the money would be given as a bond or loan,
and what the maturity dates would be, etc. The loan would be coming
from the Russian Development Agency. Palsson said that Iceland is
considering IMF assistance and that initially the Russians had been
against Iceland involving the IMF "because of the Russians' own
negative experience with the IMF in 1997." However, Palsson said
that the Russians could see the business value of involving the IMF
because it could "bring in others" (presumably other nations with
cash) which could create confidence in the Icelandic krona and the
Icelandic economy.
2. (C) Palsson emphasized that the meetings in Moscow were to inform
Russia what Iceland planned to do with the 4 billion Euro. He said
that it would be used to "kick start things" and provide foreign
liquidity. With bigger Central Bank reserves, foreign account
holders of Icelandic krona would be less likely to cash out. Palsson
acknowledged that Russia has its own financial problems, especially
with the dropping price of oil, but said the Russian 500+ billion
Euros in reserves would cover an Icelandic loan. Regarding the
question of "why ask Russia for a loan and not the U.S.", Palsson
replied that "feelers" had been put out by the government and only
the Russians responded positively. Palsson said that Iceland had
been in discussions with "others" and with sovereign wealth funds and
that the feedback has been positive, but did not elaborate further.
3. (C) Both the Finance Minister and Prime Minister's offices said
that this afternoon's FT.com's article that reported Iceland's 6
billion euro IMF agreement was imminent was unconfirmed. The
assistant to the Finance Minister said that the Letter of Intent with
the IMF had not yet been signed and that final figures had not been
confirmed. About an hour later, however, the same assistant emailed
Econoff to say that an announcement about the IMF would be likely
made tomorrow.
4. (C) Comment: Icelanders are aware that a loan from the Russians
may have implications. The fact that they are proceeding anyway is
an indication of the seriousness of the financial situation here.
VAN VOORST