President submits his draft law on amendments to Budget-2008 to Parliament

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President Viktor Yushchenko submitted a draft law on amendments to the State Budget-2008 for consideration of the Verkhovna Rada, the presidential press service informs.

According to Yushchenko's convictions, amendments to the Budget submitted by the Government "have a number of risks".

According to the President, the governmental amendments to the Budget provide for underestimated revenues to the Budget as a result of underestimated macroeconomic indexes, used for calculation of the Budget indexes. "The Government lays down inflation forecast for the year at 115.9 percent, while this index reached 115.5 percent over six months", the statement reads.

In addition, the President considers that the Government's amendments do not provide for the necessary volume of expenses, importance and urgency of which have been proved by the relevant decisions of the NSDC, President's decrees, in particular, on carrying out an experiment on construction of accessible housing, filling the Agrarian Fund to the volumes that will enable it to fulfill its functions on market regulation of prices for grain, on balancing financial flows of the NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, renewal of information security of the state, raising military efficiency of the army and quality of education.

"The draft law submitted by the President of Ukraine does not contain those shortcomings, at the same time it reorients amendments to the Budget toward the investment side. In addition to budgetary crediting of the NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine for pumping natural gas to gas storages, that is necessary on the eve of expected raising of gas prices, it envisages the necessary expenses for completion of construction of the Dniester HNPP, construction of accessible housing, raising the army's military efficiency, raising quality of education, production and broadcast of TV and radio programs for the state needs, preservation of natural and reserve stocks", the statement says.

As the press service noted, the President's draft law also has a social component. It envisages to increase money allowances to servicemen (which do not depend on the minimum wage amount) and construction of housing for them.

As UKRINFORM earlier reported, deputies from the pro-ruling faction BYUT have been blocking the Parliament's work since Tuesday insisting on first and foremost consideration of amendments to the State Budget for 2008.

The opposition sources think that a true aim of blocking is their fear of the Government's possible resignation. The Party of Regions faction insists on the necessity of the Government's report.

UKRINFORM