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Viktor Yushchenko Is Not Going to Resign 

19 January, 00:00

National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) press secretary Dmytro Rikberh, speaking January 14 to The Day's Petro IZHYK, called the rumors of Viktor Yushchenko's probable resignation as a "concoction." As to Mr. Yushchenko's trip to Truskavets, it was caused, according to Rikberh, by the necessity to consult with the President of Ukraine about day-to-day problems. Incidentally, Mr. Rikberh noted, the NBU chairman was flying on the same airplane with the Prime Minister.

As reports The Day's Mykola SAVELIEV, Mr. Yushchenko met in Lviv bankers in his capacity of National Bank chairman who is not going to resign. He again voiced his opposition to the hryvnia's floating exchange rate repeatedly proposed by the President last year. The only way out of the current situation is, in Mr. Yushchenko's opinion, a clearly stated and ambitious currency corridor. Calling the floating rate "the height of currency democracy," the chairman stressed that it was typical of stable countries with a viable economy.

Viktor Yushchenko also underlined that from now on banks must, above all, think about placing their funds into reserve, rather than making assets of them. Answering The Day's question whether these reserves might become a launching pad for a Presidential candidate, Mr. Yushchenko said: "We've got a very democratic banking system in Ukraine today. What we only demand from banks as a central bank is extreme stability, while their involvement in the political process is up to their boards of directors. Yet, history teaches that the banking system should be apolitical." At the same time, Mr. Yushchenko again ruled out any possibility of his running for presidency.

Newspaper output №:

№1, (1999)

Section

Economy