Tuesday, May 19, 2009

President holds antirecessionary meeting with leadership of the country

President Victor Yushchenko held a consultative meeting with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, National Bank Chairman Volodymyr Stelmakh, representative of the Party of Regions Mykola Azarov and NSDC Secretary Raisa Bohatyryova dedicated to coordination of antirecessionary measures of state authorities.

The agenda of the meeting included two problems: fulfillment by Ukrainian side of the obligations in Ukraine-IMF Memorandum on financial-economic policy and the situation with gas imports.

Speaking about cooperation with the IMF President Yushchenko expressed concerns about slow advance of Ukraine in fulfilling obligations coming out of Ukraine-IMF Memorandum, particularly in the part of adoption of legislative acts aimed at supporting recapitalization of banks and increasing independence of National Bank.

President Yushchenko suggested that those present agreed upon a joint action plan on Ukraine fulfilling obligations before the IMF. According to him the document would represent a positive signal for the IMF and facilitate the talks on receiving the third part of the standby loan.

When speaking about the situation with gas import and trade President Yushchenko expressed concerns about the financial-economic situation at Naftogaz of Ukraine and said that he considers suggestions on solving financial problems of the company through taking new advance payments for transit dangerous and unacceptale.

He requested the Government to present draft new budget of Naftogaz of Ukraine at the next similar meeting in ten days, which would take account of real situation at gas market an stabilize the company.