Zurabov: Russia could start border demarcation with Ukraine this year

News / 11 June 2010 | 17:53

Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov does not exclude that Russia may start the process of border demarcation with Ukraine already this year. He announced this at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.

He said that “the Russian budget will most likely manage to allocate additional funds for these purposes,” according to UKRINFORM.

At the same time, Zurabov said that he had received no information regarding Ukraine’s possible participation in this process.

“As for the delimitation of the water boundary, this problem is a priority for the Russian Foreign Ministry for the next six months,” the ambassador said.

He said that work in this direction would be actively conducted, because there are respective instructions by the presidents of both countries.

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Russia, Ukraine to set up joint aircraft venture soon – ambassador

News / 11 June 2010 | 16:37

Russia and Ukraine may set up a joint venture to promote Ukrainian aircraft in the near future, the Russian ambassador to Kiev said on Friday.

“It is likely that in the near future a 50-50 joint venture will be established that will manage the marketing and promotion of products designed by the Antonov Design Bureau and assembled in Russia,” Mikhail Zurabov said, RIA Novosti reported.

He said the joint venture could also handle the optimization of aircraft equipment and after-sales service.

He added that the Antonov Design Bureau is a “unique aircraft complex.”

Zurabov said that a group of Russian specialists would visit major Ukrainian aircraft plants.

Russian-Ukrainian relations have seen a dramatic improvement since President Viktor Yanukovych took office in February on a platform to roll back the pro-Western policies of his predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko, and heal damaged ties with Moscow.

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IMF, Ukraine agree to resume talks on June 21

News / 11 June 2010 | 12:36

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it would resume stalled negotiations with Ukraine, which is seeking a $19 billion loan, starting on June 21, according to Reuters. The ex-Soviet republic, which needs the money to help its economy recover after a 15 percent contraction last year and bridge a budget gap, has been trying to convince the Fund that it can meet tight fiscal targets. IMF executives paid a brief visit to Ukraine this week to meet senior government officials. Max Alier, the IMF`s resident representative to Ukraine, said talks focused on a 2010 fiscal target and reforms to boost growth. “Discussions focused on fiscal policies to achieve the 2010 fiscal target and set the debt firmly on a declining path, and structural reforms, in particular on financial and energy sectors, to place Ukraine on a path towards stability and growth,” Alier said in a statement. The IMF this month urged Ukraine to move faster in cutting budget deficit and reducing inflation — steps that may require painful reforms such as raising utility tariffs.

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President meets Foreign Minister of Georgia

News / 11 June 2010 | 14:47

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze, who came to Ukraine with a working visit.

“We are eager to further develop cooperation with Georgia and our mutually beneficial trade and economic relations,” said President Yanukovych, adding that currently existing dynamics in this sector obviously does not meet our potential.

“We believe that there are promising opportunities to develop our trade and economic relations and create favorable conditions for growth of the turnover between Ukraine and Georgia,” said Viktor Yanukovych.

According to the President, the intergovernmental commission of the two states should identify and consider joint steps. “In the nearest future a project to intensify our trade and economic relations that will be beneficial both for Ukraine and Georgia, should be elaborated,” he said.

The President expressed his conviction that traditionally friendly relations of Ukrainian and Georgian peoples will effectively contribute to this work.

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BYuT to submit alternative draft Budget Code

News / 11 June 2010 | 11:01

The opposition will submit to parliament during the next plenary week an alternative to the government’s draft Budget Code.

“Today we have the draft Budget Code with amendments that have stood the test of time, and it will be registered as an alternative draft Budget Code,” said Serhiy Sobolev, the prime minister of the opposition government.

According to him, this is the Budget Code that was developed by the previous government headed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which was approved by the Verkhovna Rada but vetoed by then President Viktor Yushchenko.

“The alternative document truly allows local communities to develop and not just receive handouts form Kyiv or the oblast center,” he explained.

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