A loan tranche of the International Monetary Fund, which
Ukraine might receive following the meeting of the IMF Board of Directors
scheduled for March 20 will be approved on the results
of implementation of measures as of March 2017. This was stated by Prime
Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during A Question Time for the
Government at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
"The next tranche is approved when the set objectives
have been gained. The tranche we can obtain following a meeting of the IMF Board
of Directors due on March 20 will demonstrate our performance in implementation
of tasks as of March 2017. The following measures, which we must prolong in the
framework of pursuing reforms and changes in the country are stipulated for in
the Memorandum not the first year", said Volodymyr Groysman.
The activities included in the Memorandum will be discussed
with MPs, because that will require adoption in the Parliament, emphasized the
Prime Minister.
"The
Memorandum has been promulgated. The plans for our further cooperation with the
IMF will certainly be announced as soon as the meeting of the Board of
Directors takes place. After the meeting of the Board of Directors, I think, in
a few weeks, it will be made public", said Volodymyr Groysman.
The Head of
Government noted hysteria surrounding Ukraine's cooperation with the
International Monetary Fund was engendered by certain politicians, so he urged
them to stop doing that.
"I
have the following announcement for Ukrainian citizens: there is no reason to
worry about any surprising point in a Memorandum with the International
Monetary Fund. Many changes that we must achieve are vital for Ukraine, but not
for the IMF", stressed the Prime Minister.
He cited as
an example a pension reform in Ukraine. The Prime Minister noted that 80% of
retirees in the country receive the minimum pension,
the Pension Fund’s deficit makes up UAH 140 billion. "These are the things
that require change, so we must build a new efficient pension system basing on
social justice that will enable us to eliminate the deficit of the Pension Fund
until 2024", said Volodymyr Groysman.
As a result
the stability of the pension system will be provided and Ukrainian citizens
will obtain increased pensions, he added.
"My
job as the Prime Minister and that of our Government in 2017 is to ensure the
decision on increase of pensions in Ukraine be
adopted. This will only be possible after we have introduced a serious and fair
pension reform", he underscored.