KIEV, November 9 (RIA Novosti, Taras Burnos) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko spoke Wednesday of a "systematic crisis" in the country's economy, and said he hoped to see the economy revitalize.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting Wednesday, the Ukrainian president cited administrative interference as the main cause of the economic problems.
"Administrative intervention in the country's economy has been a serious setback in the country's development during the last nine months. We must face up to this. This interference has caused a systemic crisis," he said.
Yushchenko also discussed the problem of natural gas consumption and gas prices in Ukraine.
"Natural gas prices in the country are the lowest in the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States]," Yushchenko said, adding that the Ukrainian consumer paid $37 per 1,000 cu. m, whereas even in gas-producing Russia, the price was already $41.
The cabinet meeting was held to discuss the results of the country's socio-economic development for the first nine months of 2005.
During this period, Ukraine experienced GDP growth of 2.8%, while inflation climbed to 8.1%. Commenting on these figures, Economy Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk described them as "quite ominous."
