Yushchenko insists on democracy

News / 31 August 2009 | 17:30

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko is convinced that Ukraine as a state can function only if to keep its democracy, ForUm’s correspondent informs, referring to the president’s press office.

“For today it is very important issue how to keep democracy and Ukrainian state system. I am convinced that any unity of those political forces which now in the parliament, will lead to loss of democratic values which were gained for last years,” the President said that today during the meeting with students in Chernivtsi oblast.

“Ukraine as a state can function only if to keep its democracy. None of the totalitarian model of one or two political parties can provide future of Ukraine,” the President said

ForUm

Lytvyn insists on effective VRU work

News / 31 August 2009 | 16:17

The VRU chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn wants the parliament to consider staff issues, because ‘it is impossible when the country does not have Finance, Defense and Foreign Ministers’. According to him it is necessary to consider issues on appointment of the head of central bodies of executive power.

“I will offer these staff issues to be considered this week,” Lytvyn said, the ForUm’s correspondent informs.

Lytvyn also says that draft laws on living wage should be considered in the parliament.

According to Lytvyn, voting for these or those draft laws MPs should take into account forecast estimation on economy condition for 2010.

Volodymyr Lytvyn noted that it is necessary to work in agreement in order to avoid blocking the VRU work. He added that it is necessary either to work effectively, or to dismiss this VRU.

ForUm

Tymoshenko promises state budget without delays

News / 31 August 2009 | 15:54

The government of Ukraine will submit for consideration to the VRU the draft state budget for 2010 by September 15, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko said opening the government session ion Monday, the ForUm’s correspondent informs.

According to PM, in accordance with the budget code the government will submit draft state budget for next year by September 15 without any delays.

Yulia Tymoshenko also noted that draft state budget-2010 would foresee reform of budget relations among central and local powers, increase of financial independence at local authorities.

In turn the PR leader Viktor Yanukovych demands the government to report on fulfillment of the budget for current year and also on usage of the IMF loan.

ForUm

MPs to work this week

News / 31 August 2009 | 14:43

Today at 4 p.m. session of the factions leaders will take place. It was agreed at the session of the conciliatory council of the VRU, the ForUm’s correspondent informs.

MPs are going to discuss not only agenda of the parliament for tomorrow, but also propositions on changes of the calendar plan which foresees current week to be plenary and next week – work in the committees.

As a reminder, VRU starts its plenary work on September 1.

ForUm

NBU positively regards hryvnia devaluation

News / 31 August 2009 | 13:00

The National Bank regards further hryvnia devaluation as an instrument for the foreign currency market stabilization, director of the NBU foreign economic relations department Serhiy Kruhlyk told the 24 channel. At the same time, he did not specify till what rate the national currency rate can be dropped, UkrInform reported.

“Gradual devaluation like gradual revaluation is the policy of the National Bank regarding stability, since if depreciation of the currency goes, devaluation is a method of stabilization by way of dropping the official currency rate versus hard currencies”, the official said.

According to him, in order not to allow sharp jumps of the rate, the National Bank will continue a policy of currency auctions at the privileged rate and interventions both on the Interbank and for the needs of the cash market. Kruhlyk noted that in such a way the regulator hopes to reduce agiotage among the population.

ForUm

Donbass arena stadium opened in Donetsk

News / 31 August 2009 | 12:30

Shakhtar Donetsk football club has opened the Donbass Arena football stadium in Donetsk.
The ceremonial opening of the stadium took place in the evening on August 29, Kyiv Post reported.

The opening ceremony was attended by President Victor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Party of the Regions’ leader Victor Yanukovych, and other politicians.

Yuschhenko and Lytvyn delivered addresses at the opening ceremony, but Tymoshenko did not.

About 3,000 honorary guests also attended the opening ceremony, including politicians, international football functionaries, athletes, and entertainers.

About 1,500 volunteers participated in the opening ceremony.

The presentation of the stadium was prepared by K-Events, the Italian company that organized the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in Turin (Italy) in 2006.

K-Events’ President Marco Balich did not disclose the cost of the stadium’s opening ceremony, but he did say that it cost several million euros.

The Donbass Arena football stadium has a capacity of 50,000 and fully meets the UEFA’s requirements for elite football stadiums and can host the finals of European club football tournaments.

The stadium has an oval shape and a glass facade. Its roof is inclined in the north-south direction to correspond to the slope of the landscape, thus increasing natural lighting and ventilation of the football pitch.

A park with a pond is being build around the stadium.

Three restaurants, four bars, a lounge bar, scores of fast-food restaurants, a fitness center, a proprietary shop, a museum, and a Shakhtar Donetsk fan cafe will be located inside the stadium.

Construction of the stadium began in July 2006. The general contractor for its construction was the ENKA company (Turkey).

Construction of the stadium cost USD 400 million.

The owner of the stadium is the Shakhtar Stadium limited liability company.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Donbass Arena football stadium intends to bid to host the final match of the Champions League or the Europa League in 2012.

ForUm

Yuschenko criticizes government for lack of reforms in coal industry

News / 31 August 2009 | 11:40

Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko has criticized Yulia Tymoshenko’s government for the absence of reforms in the coal industry.

“Unfortunately I cannot say that the government or the [coal industry] ministry have changed anything in their approach to reforming the industry,” the president said during the festivities on occasion of Coal Miner Day in Luhansk on Saturday, ForUm informs, referring to Interfax-Ukraine.

Yuschenko noted that because of the government’s administrative decisions coal is being sold at UAH 446 per tonne on the market, whereas its production cost was UAH 705 per tonne.

ForUm

Yushchenko and Tymoshenko greeted miners on holiday

News / 31 August 2009 | 11:02

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and the head of the government Yulia Tymoshenko congratulated the miners on their professional holiday, the ForUm’s correspondent informs.

Viktor Yushchenko on behalf of the whole country and Ukrainian people thanked miners for their contribution into strengthening of energy security of our country and growth of national industry, for reliable support of functioning of national enterprises and housing and communal economy, for electricity and heating in our houses.

The President wished the miners and their families health, happiness and new successes in work for the sake of our country.

In turn Yulia Tymoshenko noted that the profession of miners is one of the most important professions in Ukraine. The work of miner is the hardest. The PM promised to make all efforts in order profession of miner to rouse pride and respect in the country.

Yulia Tymoshenko wished the miners peace, good, consent and family wealth.

ForUm