UPDATE 1-Ecuador will pay coupon on 2015 global bond

(Recasts with detail, minister comment)

QUITO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Ecuador will pay the interest on its 2015 global bonds due this week, Finance Minister Elsa Viteri said on Tuesday, a move that may help debt restructuring a month after the country defaulted on another global bond.

"This morning I gave the green light for the payments," Viteri told reporters. The interest payment is due on Jan. 15.

The government of leftist President Rafael Correa apparently hopes the move will improve its chances of restructuring other bonds amid a growing cash shortfall caused by falling oil income.

Last month, Correa announced he would not meet an interest payment due on Dec. 15 on the country's 2012 global bond. He also declared default on Ecuador's global bond debt, citing a government determination that the bonds were contracted illegally by past administrations.

Correa, who for years threatened to stop debt payments, has said his government will buy back the $3.8 billion in global bonds at a "very large" discount in January.

Correa had said he could give a different treatment to the 2015 global bonds, which were negotiated by officials close to his government.

In coming days the government will reveal its restructuring plan for the 2012 and 2030 global bonds, Viteri said.

The face value of the global bonds was $510 million for the 2012 issue, $2.7 billion for the 2030 and $650 million of the 2015 bonds.

The coupon payment for the 2030 bonds is due next month. (Reporting by Alonso Soto; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Leslie Adler)