IMF not insisting on deficit-free budget from Ukraine, vice PM says

There is very reason to hope that the IMF mission will return to Ukraine in the nearest two weeks. Vice Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria stated at a press conference.

The official stressed that working and constructive discussions between the Government and the IMF are under way at the present. “And we have very reason to hope that either next week or in the following two weeks the IMF mission will return to Ukraine to complete the reconsideration of the next step,” Hryhoriy Nemyria noted.

According to him, there are no grounds to say that IMF tranche will be provided to Ukraine not as scheduled. Hryhoriy Nemyria reminded that the second stage of the IMF’s credit is scheduled for March and the third – for May.

“The government is holding talks with the IMF. I can say now that the interim outcome of these discussions is the fact that the IMF is already not insisting on a deficit-free budget, as it did from the very beginning,” he said.

Nemyria said that the current deficit of 3% in the state budget for 2009 is acceptable for the IMF.

The Cabinet of Ministers called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to sign the draft a joint declaration between the Ukrainian government and the IMF as soon as possible.