06/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Prospect of easing of Russian loan conditions. Reuters says the Cypriot government has reached agreement with Russia about easing the loan conditions for the Russian loan of €2.5 billion received in 2011. Reuters received the information from a document drawn up by the troika (European Commission, ECB and IMF), saying that Moscow has agreed to reduce the interest rate on the loan from 4.5% to 2.5% a year and to extend the payment deadline by two years, to 2018. The document says that the criteria have now been met for payment of the first batch of aid, some €3 billion of the total €10 billion aid package agreed by the eurozone and the IMF. Sources at the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) say the ESM board of managers is likely to come to a decision on payment of its share of the aid (€2 billion) so that it can be disbursed in mid-May. (EL/transl.fl)