President Viktor Yanukovych addressed a letter to UEFA President Michel Platini, in which he called Ukraine's successful preparation for the 2012 European Football Championship as "an absolute state priority," the press office of the Presidential Administration reported.The President noted a significant reduction in the backlog of works at the basic infrastructure facilities, and return of the overall process of preparations to the controlled track

President Viktor Yanukovych called "irreversible" the process of development and expansion of press freedom in Ukraine. He said this in his reply to the letter of the International Press Institute, which contained evidence of harassment of journalists and the media.The President testified that all of these facts had been thoroughly investigated, and serious findings were made. "I will never allow a return to censorship or any other methods of pressure on journalists," he said

The Ukrainian government will fulfill all the commitments made to the IMF, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Serhiy Tihipko said at a briefing. "All that is signed on behalf of the state by the Prime Minister, Head of the National Bank and Finance Minister will be observed till the last penny. Talk about possible non-implementation of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund is just a personal opinion of some deputies, or some politicians," he said.

The government has made a forecast of basic macro indicators for 2011, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Serhiy Tihipko has told the press on Wednesday. Notably, according to the deputy premier, in 2011 the government plans nominal GDP of UAH 1.250 trillion, GDP growth of 4.5 percent. Next year, inflation is projected at about 10 percent, budget deficit of the public sector at 3.5 per cent with a budget deficit for NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and local budgets. It is envisaged that the state budget deficit will be 3 percent.

The Ukrainian government urges to end political speculation in connection with the resumption of cooperation between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Cabinet said in a statement on Tuesday.In Ukraine, according to the laws of the market economy, there was the need to change the gas price for households by raising it to 50%."There was no other way to preserve the economic independence of Ukraine, stabilize the financial situation, reduce the size of public debt, end the destruction of domestic oil and gas industry and the system of housing and utility services

President Viktor Yanukovych discussed with Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tihipko on Monday the situation with the introduction of economic reform.As the press service of the President reported, the head of state tasked the government to effectively use the break in the work of the Verkhovna Rada, and prepare by the start of the parliament session a package of vital laws and a draft budget for 2011.In turn, the vice-premier noted that the budget for 2010 in the first half of the year was fulfilled "by virtually 100%."

After the grain exports ban in Russia, Ukraine has got the upper hand in grain exports from the Black Sea region, UKRINFORM reported citing ProAgro. On the one hand there is an advantageous position for agrarians and exporters, on the other hand - it is necessary to monitor the shipped volumes when the country as a member of the WTO can not restrict exports. Otherwise, according to First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev, it is possible to exceed export opportunities.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a decree enacting a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decision on urgent fire prevention measures in Ukraine. The decree has been posted on the official website of the head of state. The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to take measures to involve the available forces and means in extinguishing fires and eliminating other emergencies related to fires. In particular, the Emergencies Situations Ministry should improve the readiness of personnel and equipment to tackle possible fires and their consequences.

The Cabinet of Ministers will create a system to improve the quality of drafting investment projects, First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev said at a meeting of the government committee on the development of economic branches and scientific and innovation policy, his press service reported.The participants in the meeting considered several documents on drafting and implementing investment projects. In particular, the issue concerns a draft government resolution on the introduction of the system for drafting and selecting investment projects in the real sector of the economy

Integration of Ukraine's electric power system with the European power networks is one of the crucial priorities for the development of the power industry of the country, Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko has said on Thursday. Boiko noted that the increasing interdependence of the countries that produce, transit and consume energy sources creates the necessity to develop partner relations, such as integration with the energy market of the European Union. "One of the most important priorities in the development of electric power system in Ukraine