Published by Cabinet Press Service

Today Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko held a telephone conversation with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

The sides discussed the results of the IMF mission's work in Ukraine, and the comprehensive package of economic and financial measures aimed at overcome the consequences of the international financial crisis in Ukraine.

Tymoshenko praised the work of the IMF mission in Ukraine and thanked Strauss-Kahn for help in response to Ukraine's request.

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Published in Inform issue #91
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to lend Ukraine a $16.5 billion loan package to alleviate the financial crisis threatening to imperil the country’s economy. The agreement of a 24-month loan facility was announced on Sunday and is subject to approval by the IMF Management and Executive Board.

“Consideration by the Board would follow approval of legislative changes to Ukraine's bank resolution program,” stated Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the IMF.

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Published in Inform issue #90
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President Rescinds Decree Cancelling 7 December Election

President Viktor Yushchenko has cancelled his decree which dissolves parliament and calls for new elections on 7 December. The step enables parliament to pass vital budget legislation and measures aimed at alleviating the financial crisis threatening Ukraine’s economy. At a press conference the president suggested that pre-term elections would be held on 14 December.

The presidential decree was cancelled following a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) which met on Monday. “We hope that parliament will approve the anti-crisis measures which were discussed at the Security Council,” said the president.

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Published by Project Syndicate
By: Elmar Brok, Jas Gawronski and Charles Tannock

There is no more depressing sight in politics than a leader who, desperate to cling to power, ruins his country in the process. By his recent actions, President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine now looks like he has joined the long list of rulers who have sacrificed their country's future simply to prolong their misrule.

Yushchenko's recent moves in both politics and economics suggest that his instinct for self-preservation knows no limits. Once a proud supporter of the free market and the man who banished hyperinflation in Ukraine in the 1990s, Yushchenko has in recent weeks vetoed — sometimes on flimsy grounds and sometimes for no stated reason at all — a series of vital privatizations.

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Published in UNIAN

After the visit to Brussels, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko will hold consultations on stabilizing the situation in Ukraine.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, she claimed this to a news conference in Brussels, after a meeting with Javier Solana, EU Council Secretary General, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

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Published in UNIAN

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko left on working visit to Brussels, according to the government’s press-office.

She is due to meet with Javier Solana, EU Council Secretary General, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Yulia Tymoshenko will participate in the Summit of European People’s Party and will hold a number of bilateral meetings with heads of governments of the EU member-states partaking in the Summit.

Published in Inform issue #89
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Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has pledged to continue as premier until a new coalition government is formed. Her announcement enables the government to focus on alleviating the impact of the global financial crisis and economic downturn on Ukraine’s spluttering economy. In the meantime, the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) has challenged the president’s decree, which dissolves parliament and calls for early elections, describing it as “unconstitutional.” A petition to Kyiv’s District Administrative Court has suspended the president’s decree but has resulted in the president firing the judge and appealing to a higher court.

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Published in Washington Times / AP

Ukraine's prime minister says there will be no early parliamentary elections, defying a presidential decree that set a Dec. 7 vote.

Yulia Tymoshenko says in a televised statement Friday that early elections are unconstitutional and that the country has no money to pay for them. She predicts that parliament would reject the new vote.

President Viktor Yushchenko earlier this week moved up the elections, after dropping attempts to revive the shattered pro-Western coalition with Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko's move raises the stakes in her political battle with Yushchenko. Her party reportedly went to court to avoid early elections, prompting the president to fire the judge considering the case.

Published in Kyiv Post

As global economic storm clouds gather, Yushchenko is faltering and Tymoshenko is playing up the role of ‘scorned’ woman. Many in Ukraine and abroad want a new political face to emerge. Is Yatsenyuk the answer? The Kyiv Post tracks the trio.

LVIV, Ukraine – Most of Ukraine’s 60-some palaces and castles are in the western part of the nation. And most are in various states of disrepair and dilapidation.

As such, they provide apt metaphors for the state of Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko’s political career. The pro-Western president isn’t doing so well these days in his own west, once a stronghold of his bedrock support.

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Published in ForUm

The government of Yulia Tymoshenko will keep working in full capacity till the new parliament elects new Cabinet. Our Ukraine deputy Yuri Klyuchkovsky declared.

“In full capacity and without any obstacles,” Klyuchkovsky said speaking about the nearest future of the Ukrainian government.

At the same time the MP noted that OU-PSD does not plan to withdraw its ministers from the Cabinet of Tymoshenko. “The government will work with all plenary powers till new government formed by the new parliament replaces it,” he said.

As a reminder, President Yushchenko dismissed the parliament Wednesday and set early parliamentary elections.

Published by Canwest News Service
By: Peter O’Neil, Europe Correspondent

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko's decision to plunge his country into a winter election is an act of desperation that could end up bloodying his own party, a Canadian analyst said Thursday.

Yushchenko, engaged in a bitter feud with former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, on Thursday set elections for Dec. 7, according to his official website.

University of Alberta historian David Marples, who writes occasional political columns for the Kyiv Post, said Yushchenko's actions are driven by his rivalry with his Orange Revolution ally.

"This events reflect the ineptitude of the president and his inability to see beyond a personal squabble with his prime minister," Marples said in an e-mail interview.

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Published in Inform issue #88
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Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko went to Moscow last week to progress the finalisation of a gas deal. However, her meeting with Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was nearly cancelled, when the premier and her advisers arrived at Kyiv’s Boryspil airport to find their aircraft unexpectedly commandeered by President Viktor Yushchenko.

According to the president’s office, an Ilushin-62 aircraft to be used by the president to fly to Lviv in Western Ukraine, developed a technical problem so a reserve aircraft was commandeered. The plane selected just happened to be the aircraft earmarked for Ms Tymoshenko who, at the time, was heading off for crucial gas talks in Moscow.

In the end, the government delegation was forced to split up and, in haste, a charter plane was hired to get the prime minister to her meeting.

The meeting with her Russian counterpart took place at the Novo-Ogaryovo country mansion where the leaders agreed an inter-governmental memorandum. Interfax reported the Russian premier as saying, "After a very substantial talk, we managed to coordinate an inter-governmental memorandum on cooperation in gas issues, which could later serve as a basis for a future gas treaty between Gazprom and Naftohaz Ukrainy."

The wide ranging discussions included the settlement of a $1.8 billion debt by Ukraine, gas transit issues, and the establishment of direct contractual relationships between Gazprom and Naftohaz – the Russian and Ukrainian state gas companies. Completion of the deal and the announcement of a gas price for 2009 are expected to take another month.

Ukraine currently pays $179.50 per thousand cubic metres for imported natural gas from Russia and Central Asia. Ms Tymoshenko has long campaigned for transparent dealings on natural gas imports to Ukraine, with the removal of intermediaries and a direct relationship between the two national gas companies.

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Published in Inform

An appeal by prominent members of Ukraine's business community, to avoid a pre-term parliamentary election, appears to have gone unheeded as President Viktor Yushchenko declared his intention to hold consultations on the possible dissolution of parliament on 7 October. On Saturday, his press office confirmed he will give lawmakers until next Tuesday to agree a new coalition and thereafter may dissolve parliament and call the third parliamentary election in as many years.

Only last Friday, prominent figures from Ukraine’s business community voiced their concern over the adverse impact another election could have on Ukraine’s creaking economy. The group called for Ukraine’s democratic forces to unite for the sake of the country and dubbed a potential election “a disaster waiting to happen.”

Dmytro Tarabakin, Managing Director of Dragon Capital said, “Our economy is challenged by a tough macro-economic environment and worsening global market conditions. Now is the time for Ukraine’s politicians to put aside their personal differences and forge a stable, reliable government that is committed to sound economic policies.”

The briefing drew attention to the recent downgrade by Fitch Ratings of Ukraine’s Long-Term IDR rating, citing “deteriorating fundamentals” and describing “political volatility” as a factor (see Inform Issue 87). Attention was also drawn to recent statements by foreign emerging market analysts concerned over the continuing political uncertainty and the repercussions of an election on policy making.

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Published by AFP

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Wednesday said she would accept any conditions to salvage a pro-West coalition amid fears the pro-Russian opposition would seize control.

"We will close our eyes and accept any ultimatums in order to preserve Ukraine's strategic orientation, to preserve the parliament and not to throw the country into a new crisis," Tymoshenko said in parliament.

Tymoshenko has been in a spiralling row with President Viktor Yushchenko sparked by differences over how Ukraine should react to Russia's August war in Georgia.

She warned the political deadlock was a result of actions by Yushchenko, who was doing "everything in order to lead the country towards early elections."

"We will not allow this. We will see who across the country wants to have a democratic coalition, and who does not," the prime minister said.

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