Tymoshenko to politicians: “Don’t throw spanners in the works”

Unfortunately, I expect no assistance from other branches of power. My only request to them is not to purposefully create hurdles, not to stand in my way as I’m trying to pull Ukraine out of the recession, The UKrayinska Pravda quotes her as saying Aug. 17.

Commenting on the official statistics indicating a 26.7% drop in industrial production from July last year, Tymoshenko said: “Of course, a 26% drop is not an optimistic result. However, if you take into account that for the 5^{th consecutive month we have positive dynamics and really serious growth in July shown by some branches of industry, we can confidently speak about indications of stable recovery of Ukraine’s economy.”}

The premier also told journalists that her cabinet is consistently implementing all the 15 anti-crisis programs adopted when the recession hit Ukraine.

Sounding upbeat, she added, “The country will live in peace, especially after the presidential election.”

Echoing the IMF prognosis, Tymoshenko has also predicted a 3% production growth in 2010.

She again reassured Ukrainians that her cabinet will effectively deal with the recession. “The country is turning the corner in a steady and stable way,” she said.

Speaking on a critical note, the Ukrainian premier lashed out at the Central bank, NBU, for failing to keep the hryvnia stable. She stressed there are no reasons at present for any hryvnia weakening, saying the country’s negative trade balance has shrunk 7 times in the first 6 months of 2009 to $471 mln. It follows, Tymoshenko continued, that there are absolutely no reasons for hryvnia fluctuating.” Regrettably, the country’s top leaders and their puppet bankers [reference to Pres Yushchenko and his buddy, NBU Governor Stelmakh] continue to line their pockets with billions of hryvnias, cashing in on Ukraine’s hardships, she added.

Earlier, Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn said the IMF predicts a 3% GDP growth for Ukraine in 2010. Before, IMF experts had given a more cautious forecast – at 1%.