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    <title>Free access</title>
    <link>http://news.ukrinform.com/eng/search/?p[]=48</link>
    <description><![CDATA[Free access]]></description>
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    <lastBuildDate>2010-07-29 13:48:00</lastBuildDate>
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      <title>Pesa Ukrzaliznytsia plans to purchase Polish Pesa trains</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The State Administration of Railway Transport of Ukraine (Ukrzaliznytsia) has announced plans to purchase Polish Pesa ED74 inter-regional trains, the Ukrzaliznytsia press service said.Mykhailo Kostiuk, General Director of Ukrzaliznytsia has already held negotiations with the Polish company officials.Ukrzaliznytsia is considering the possibility to create a special boarder terminal together with PKP Polish Railway Lines (Polskie Koleje Panstwowe) to control and pass passengers.Earlier, Ukrzaliznytsia voiced intention to purchase ten inter-regional trains to carry passengers during UEFA EURO-2012, but its officials have not made up their minds as to a manufacturer yet.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:38:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Klitschko, Peter agree to September 11 fight in Germany</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine (54-3, 48 KO's) and former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Samuel Peter of Nigeria (34-3, 27 KO's) have agreed to a contract on their September 11th fight in Germany, the boxers' representatives announced.The contract has not yet been signed. The fight will be held at the Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany. Klitschko was supposed to be fighting number #1 ranked IBF heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin (19-0, 14 KO's).However, Povetkin missed the first press conference for the fight and failed to sign the contract to fight Wladimir. Povetkin's trainer Teddy Atlas reportedly felt that Povetkin was not ready for the title shot against Wladimir at this time.Peter's manager, Ivaylo Gotzev, said about the Klitschko fight: “We're going [Thursday] morning to sign. We're good to go. My prediction has always been the same if we got a rematch. This time we're going to finish the job and not leave it to the judges' scorecard. We are going into the lion's den to take him out.” That may be easier said than done. Wladimir is very hard to beat when fighting in his adopted country of Germany, where he's only suffered one defeat during his career.Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente says that the contract for Klitschko-Peter should be signed by this Thursday. “We've come to a deal. But a contract has not yet been signed, but I hope we can officially announce the fight on Thursday,” Boente said.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:48:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Boryspil airport gets UAH 73mn from JBIC</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. Boryspil International Airport has received UAH 72.79 million (USD 1 - UAH 7.90) from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), UKRINFORM reported quoting the Delo newspaper (Business).The loan funds will be used for the construction of D terminal.As reported, Turkey's Dogus Alarko YAD won a tender to build D terminal at the Boryspil airport. The project is being funded by JBIC.On March 29, 2005 the Ukrainian and Japanese governments signed an agreement on extending a USD 180 million loan to Ukraine to finance a Boryspil airport development project for 30 years.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:38:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ion Stavila appointed Moldova&#039;s ambassador to Ukraine</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Hnatyshyn has received credentials from newly-appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Ukraine Ion Stavila, UKRINFORM reported with reference to the Foreign Ministry's website.The sides discussed prospects of bilateral Ukraine-Moldova cooperation in political, trade-economic and humanitarian areas. The diplomats also focused on the internal situation in Moldova in the context of a referendum and presidential election slated for this autumn, and exchanged opinions of the Transnistrian settlement.The sides confirmed readiness to develop a comprehensive political dialogue at all levels to address urgent issues of Ukraine-Moldova relations.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:27:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrainian agencies among finalists at Ad Stars Advertising Festival</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The works of two Ukrainian agencies have appeared in the short-lists of the Ad Stars International Advertising Festival, which is annually held in South Korea.The jury will assess the video commercials of Euro RSCG Kiev agency and the prints of Kaffeine Communications.Busan will traditionally host the Ad Stars-2010 Festival over August 26-28 this year. A peculiar feature of this event is that the work submission is free at the competition.Applications of the competitors are divided into ten categories, eg. Foods, Cosmetics/Beauty, Beverage, etc., and into three nominations, i.e. Film, Print and Interactive.Last year there were 3,258 works at the festival and this year their amount has reached 5,437. The number of the countries submitted their works also increased from 38 to 41.In May, Leo Burnett Ukraine advertising campaign, related to the homeless children, for Karitas Fund, was twice awarded at Idea 2010 Festival in Novosibirsk, the Russian Federation.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:41:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine first complains to WTO</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. It is the fist time when Ukraine has taken an advantage of being a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to settle a dispute.An official complain of the Ukrainian party about Armenia which, according to the complainant, applies tax discrimination in relation to imported tobacco products and alcohol beverages, supplied from Ukraine. The complaint is dated on July 20, 2010.According to 'Ukraine and the World Trade Organization; website, this is the first case for both Armenia and Ukraine when the WTO is considering their complaints.The complains relate to the Armenia law in force on Tobacco Fixed Tax, according to which import cigarettes are imposed AMD 6,500 per 1,000 pieces compared to AMD 4,750 for similar domestic cigarettes.Ukraine is expected to see the official reaction of the Armenian party within10 days.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:35:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Payment cards losing their popularity in Ukraine</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The number of payment cards in Q2/2010 continued to fall. The active card quantity went 92,000 down, the National Bank of Ukraine has reported.Under the NBU regulations, the cards, which are used at least once a year, are considered as active. According to the latest data, people keep 28.742,000 of such cards. There are 45.033,000 cards, in total.At the same time, the total number of ATM increased in Q2/2010. They have amounted to 29,741. Following the 2nd quarter results, payment terminals also grew in number and amounted 107, 038, the central bank said.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:45:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Tihipko: IMF loan speaks for support of reforms internationally</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The International Monetary Fund's new Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Ukraine will contribute to improving Ukraine's international sovereign rating and foreign investment growth, Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tihipko has said.In his words, "that fact that the IMF Executive Board unanimously approved a new Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine of USD 15.5 billion is signaling about support by the international community of reforms aimed at ensuring the economic growth of our state and improving the welfare of Ukrainians".The resumption of cooperation with the IMF, Tihipko says, opens for Ukraine new opportunities for economic growth and improvement of the image of Ukraine in the international arena.The deputy prime minister also noted that Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements of the IMF, proving realism of budget revenues and implementing real reforms that will improve Ukraine's competitiveness on international markets and will contribute to the welfare of Ukrainians.He noted that the new program with the IMF in the amount of USD 15.15 billion is intended for 2.5 years. The first tranche that Ukraine expects to receive in the coming days will be USD 1.89 billion and will go to increase international reserves of National Bank and partial coverage of the budget deficit for this year.A second tranche of the IMF arrangement is scheduled for the end of this December."In accordance with the terms of the cooperation program, Ukraine will receive USD 2 billion to cover the budget deficit in 2010, but starting the next year all funds without exception will be used to replenish the reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine. This will mainly stabilize the national currency and will augur well for further financial sector development of the state,” Tihipko underscored.As reported, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on July 28 approved a 29-month SDR 10 billion (about USD 15.15 billion) Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Ukraine in support of the authorities' economic adjustment and reform program. An initial disbursement equivalent to SDR 1.25 billion (USD 1.89 billion) is available immediately, with subsequent disbursements subject to quarterly reviews. The SBA entails exceptional access to IMF resources, amounting to 728.9 percent of Ukraine's quota in the Fund.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:55:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Argentine tango festival starting in Odesa</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. Odesa (southern Ukraine) is hosting the 2nd International Argentine Tango D'amore Festival. The grand concert will open the festival at the Odesa Philharmonic Hall.Tango fans will be able to acquire theoretical knowledge and practical dance skills as well as enjoying professional dancers' performances within the festival.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:13:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine&#039;s Oleksandr Dolhopolov through to ATP Studena Croatia Open quarter-final</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandr Dolhopolov has advanced to the quarter-final of the ATP Studena Croatia Open, Umag. The No.6-seed defeated Croatian Franco Skugor 7:6, 6:3.In the next round Dolhopolov will play No.4-seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:13:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine ups  semi-finished steel product exports</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine increased  semi-finished steel product exports in June compared to May by 1.8% to 1.12 million tons.Export proceeds grew by 5.9% to USD 589.84 million.Exports rose by 26.2% against June 2009, but fell by 1.6% and totaled 5.91 million tons over January-June 2010 compared to the respective period of last year.In 2009  semi-finished steel product exports declined by 8.5% and made up 11.5 million tons.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:42:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>NBU proposes government to boost capital in another two banks</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The National Bank proposes to increase capital of two banks controlled by the government, Ukrgasbank and Kyiv Bank, till 2010 end.“NBU approached the Finance Ministry with a letter proposing to consider an issue about renewal of the amount of regulatory capital of banks till January 1, 2011, to the amounts no less against those determined by the National Bank,” the NBU letter reads.At the same time, according to the National Bank estimate, it is advisable for the government to determine the most optimal way for renewal of regulative capital of those credit and financial establishments within the frames of the worked out strategy of their development and optimization of the budget expenses.Among the ways for solving this task, the NBU notes measures on cutting the credit risks, including at the expense of using guarantees.The letter does not cite a concrete proposal of the central bank on increasing capital of those financial establishments, however it notes that Article 32 of the Law on Banking fixes a requirement as regards capital of those banks exceeding the level of their authorized capital.The Ukrainian government controls five banks: fully such state banks as Oshchadbank and Ukreximbank, as well as Rodovid Bank, Ukrgasbank and Bank Kyiv that were transferred under the state administration within the frames of the anti-crisis program on the banking sector capitalization.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:15:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Crimea intends to launch 8.5 MW solar power plant</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. A solar power plant is expected to be launched this year in Crimea (southern Ukraine), Viktor Plakida, the Minister of Fuel and Energy of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, has announced at the press conference.According to him, the pilot project of 8.5 MW solar power plant will be put into operation in the coming future. Its assembling has already started near the village of Rodnikovoye in Simferopol district.The project value makes up around EUR 20 million. At the same time, components for the plant will be supplied from Zaporizhzhia.Plakida stressed the fist megawatt of power will be obtained in late August-early September.As referred to another alternative source of energy, wind farms (WF), they produce 0.8% of electric power in Crimea.Nowadays, Crimean operational wind farms, giving 63.1 MW of total power, needs modernization and new power units.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Pension fund budget 2010 approved with UAH 26.6bln deficit</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The Cabinet approved the Pension Fund budget for 2010. A relevant resolution was published on the government's official website.According to the document, balance of the funds as of the year start made up UAH 2.228 billion (1 USD - 7.9 UAH); revenues - UAH 124.815 billion; expenses - UAH 156.797 billion; total expenses - UAH 192.282 billion; an excess of expenses over revenues - UAH 26.595 billion; covering of the Pension Fund deficit for payment of pensions at the expense of the state budget funds makes up UAH 26.595 billion.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:03:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrainian banks with foreign capital undergo stress tests</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/.  Ukrainian banks with foreign capital have undergone stress tests. The results made public during a forum of leading foreign financial institutions testify to this.In particular, current liquidity ratio of Raiffeisen Zentalbank Oesterreich (RZB) as of January 1, 2010, made up 9.3%, its stress test of current liquidity ratio as of January 1, 2012 is 7.8%; BNP Paribas - 10.1% and 9.6% respectively; Inteza Sanpaolo - 8.3% and 8.2%; ING Bank - 10.2% and 8.8%; Unicredit - 8.6% and 7.8%; Erste Group Bank AG - 9.2% and 8%; Credit Agricole - 9.7% and 9%; Societe Generale - 10.7% and 10%; National Bank of Greece - 11.3% and 7.4%; EFG Eurobank Ergasias, S. A. - 11.2% and 8.17%; Alpha Bank - 11.6% and 8.22%; Piraeus Bank Group - 9% and 6%; OTP Bank NYRT. - 13.8% and 16.2%; PKO Bank Polski - 13.3% and 15.4%; SEB Bank - 12.4% and 10.3%; Swedbank - 10.4% and 9.9%.Stress tests were carried out according to two main scenarios: in the first case main forecast indexes were taken with taking into consideration the European economy growth this year at the level of 1.3% and 1.6% in 2011. The second scenario was based on negative forecast indexes, in particular, this year - prolongation of stagnation of the European economy and in 2011 - its fall at 0.4%.At the same time, the 'unfavorable' scenario was measured 3 pp down against a favorable scenario. At the same time, an index of the bank's capital adequacy was taken into consideration (equity). It made up 6% for Tier I Capital.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:09:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Coke export drops twofold</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/.  In June, coke export reduced by 50% or by 76,490 tons against May to 76,530 tons at USD 20.93 million.Against June 2009, export grew by 78.1% or by 33,560 tons.In January-June 2010 against the same period of the previous year, coke export increased by 54.6% or by 210,520 tons and made up 596,080 tons at USD 147.24 million.In 2009, coke export dropped by 8.5% and made up 922,030 tons against the previous year indexes.The largest coke producer is Avdeyevka Coke and Chemical Plant (Donetsk region, Ukraine's east).]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:56:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Services sector reduces by 0.6% for H1/2010</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/. The volume of services, provided by service companies in Ukraine, made up UAH 93.1 billion (UAH 7.90/USD 1) over January-June 2010 that is 0.6% down against the same period of 2009, the State Statistics Committee.On average, one entity rendered services at UAH 1.80 million. Kyiv holds the 1st position among the Ukrainian cities with UAH 5.65 million, followed by Sevastopol with UAH 2.41 million and by Odesa region with UAH 2.39 million.This June, Ukrainian companies provided customers with services at UAH 17.6 billion that is 7.7% more compared to the respective period of 2009.In this sector, services of transportation, mail and telecommunications amounted to more than a half (54.9%), whereas estate operations, renting, engineering and business-related services totaled more than a quarter (27.5%).]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:14:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>State debt 5.1% in June</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/.  The aggregate state (direct) and guaranteed debt of Ukraine in June 2010 increased by 5.1% or $2.1 billion to $43.083 billion.According to the Ministry of Finance, in January-June, the total national debt increased by 8.2% or $3.27 billion, from $39.813 billion.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:12:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Bread may get more expensive in Ukraine - Ministry of Agrarian Policy</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 29 /UKRINFORM/.  The Minister of Agrarian Policy, Mykola Prysiazhniuk, does not rule out a rise in the prices of bread to be made of the newly-harvested grain.As he said at a press conference in Zhytomyr, the issue of price of bread in this country remains acute."On the one hand, we are satisfied that the price of grain increases, and on the other we realize that there are producers of grain and there is processing industry, manufacturers of bread, which will be unable to curb pricing, as the price of grain has increased," Prysiazhniuk said.In his view, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Social Welfare should consider mechanisms to protect the poor.  The Head of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy has also promised government interventions of grain through the Agrarian Fund to keep the price of bread back.Prysiazhniuk reminded that, in order to stabilize bread prices in Ukraine, every region of this country must develop its own grain fund.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:21:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrainians take more serious approach to organization of holidays</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainians more and more often prefer to directly order their rest abroad or to plan their trips independently. It is cheaper and, as a case with Karya Tour proved, more reliable, UKRINFORM reports with reference to the Focus publication.Several years ago, Ukrainians preferred to purchase 'hot' tours on the eve of their holidays, while now managers of tourist agencies note that the clients' approach to organization of their holidays became more serious.More and more often the tourists compare proposals from Ukrainian firms with the same proposals in other countries and they more thoroughly choose hotels and resorts.According  to Deputy Director of Trevelina Company Margarita Nahorna, recently the number of Ukrainians ready to purchase a cheaper tour abroad, for instance in Russia, have considerably grown.Tourists, according to her, started to more actively look for a way to have a rest at a lower price. Only some Ukrainian tourist operators have their formed routes. Out of 2,000 registered agencies only 20 large companies are engaged in development of own routes.Most often, in Ukraine they sell ready tours of foreign partners with their extra charge, the expert explains. Difference of cost depends only on what part of this extra charge the tourist operator is ready to mark down.Prices for similar tours for residents of the European countries and post-Soviet countries noticeably differ, CIS residents have to pay almost twofold more. Therefore, advanced travelers try to purchase vouchers directly from foreign tourist operators by leaving aside Ukrainian mediators.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:11:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>UKRINFORM ready to boost information cooperation with Syria</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Syria is interested in sharing the experience of Ukrainian state media activity amid market conditions, Abdullatif Oumran, the Director General with the Syrian Media Holding Dar Al Baath, said at a meeting with Viktor Chamara, the Director General at the National News Agency of Ukraine UKRINFORM, according to UKRINFORM correspondent.The chief of the Syrian media holding said that the situation with the public media in Syria has common features with the Ukrainian. According to him, over the last 10 years Syria has been actively developing private media, as of mid 2010 their market share is 50%. Except for the National News Agency SANA, which due to government preferences remains a monopolist in the news market of the country, the rest of the state media are experiencing difficult times. Among the problem issues Abdullatif Oumran named the outflow of personnel from state media into the private, poor level of journalists' promotion through a limited budget, and therefore a lower quality of work.In turn, UKRINFORM Deputy Director General Volodymyr Reznikov said that the national media in Ukraine for the second consecutive decade have been trying to fight for information market amid severe and huge competition. "The news agency staff and leadership are facing an acute problem of providing competitive products when private media receive more funding," he said. However, Reznikov emphasized that the Ukrainian government understands the basic problems of the agency and is ready to support the concept of UKRINFORM strategic development.According to the Deputy Director General, partnership relations with national agencies of foreign countries, which in turn increase the reliability, efficiency and product quality, contribute to the agency's confidence in information space. Reznikov also said that under the development concept, the news agency plans to launch new foreign language resources. In this context, he stressed that UKRINFORM is ready to step up cooperation in information area with Syria.Media Holding Dar Al Baath operates the publishing of the central political daily newspaper Al Baath, a printing publication of the ruling Syrian Baath Arab Socialist Party.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:46:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Odesa film festival to be traditional</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The Odesa International Film Festival (OIFF) is expected to become traditional, the OIFF organizers announced.President of the festival Viktoria Tihipko (Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tihipko' wife) noted that, for her personally, one of the great achievements of the 1st festival was its group atmosphere and a feedback received from both cinema experts and an audience.'Odessa festival is our contribution to Ukrainian cinema development', she stressed.The 2nd film festival will be staged in Odesa over July 15-23, 2011.This year, the Russian film 'Minors under 16 ...' has earned the Grand Prix of Odesa International Festival, held over July 16-24.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:37:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine decreases steel pipe exports</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/.  Ukraine reduced steel pipe exports by 13.3% to 108,190 tons in June against May.Sale proceeds fell by 8.5% to USD 120.19 million.Seamless pipe exports dropped by 12.5% to 58,880 tons, pipes of more than 406.4 diameter by 22.8% to 23,650 tons, ànd hollow pipes and sections by 4.5%, to 25,660 tons.Exports declined by 2.5% compared to June 2009. In January-June against the 1st half of 2009, steel pipe exports fell by 15% and totaled 557,050 tons.For the last year steel pipe export went 23.8% down and reached 1.38 million tons.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:34:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrnafta gets profit by half year results</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Net profit of OJSC Ukrnafta, the largest oil production company of Ukraine, in April-June 2010 made up UAH 950.51 million (1 USD - 7.9 UAH), while the company completed the same period of the last year with dead loss of UAH 191.52 million.According to the enterprise's report in the information disclosure system of the State Securities and Stock Market Commission on Wednesday, its net profit in Q2 increased 2.6 fold to UAH 4.58 billion.Ukrnafta's gross profit over April-June reached UAH 1.241 billion, while in Q2 last year the company got dead loss at UAH 31.62 million.In total, Ukrnafta completed H1 with net profit of UAH 1.525 billion against dead loss of UAH 497.18 million over the same period of the previous year, and its gross profit reached UAH 2.260 billion against UAH 106.68 million of dead loss a year earlier.Net profit of the company in January-June 2010 grew 2.7 fold to UAH 7.362 billion.Ukrnafta by results of 2009 got net profit at UAH 378.783 million, 3.8 fold or UAH 1.059 billion less against 2008. At the same time, net profit increased by 6.2% tî UAH 9.978 billion.National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine possesses 50%+1 share in OJSC Ukrnafta, a group of companies related to Privatbank stockholders (Dnipropetrovsk) possesses about 42% shares in the joint stock company.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:06:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>UEFA EURO 2012 match tickets to be individual</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. President Viktor Yanukovych has signed amendments to the laws on organizing and hosting the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship in Ukraine, according to the Information Center “Ukraine-2012”.The instrument, inter alia, defines a procedure of ticket circulation during the UEFA EURO 2012 matches.“Ticket sales for a football match during the tournament will be made upon presentation of an identity document, with the obligatory indication on the ticket of the surname, name of the person, the document and its number. The right to sell, transfer and use tickets for any UEFA event belongs to this person," reads the law.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:54:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>NERC rises price for realization of own gas</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) increased for 2010 a price for realization of own gas for OJSC Ukrnafta, state enterprise Ukrgazvydobuvannia and SJSC Chornomornaftogaz.A relevant decision was taken by the commission at a special meeting, the regulator's official website reads.According to the decision, in particular, a price for own gas for Ukrnafta will grow 2.2 fold to UAH 458/1,000 cu m (VAT excluding), for Ukrgazvydobuvannia - 1.8 fold to UAH 350/1,000 cu m, for Chornomornaftogaz - 1.6 fold to UAH 456/1,000 cu m (1 USD - 7.9 UAH).In December, the NERC took a decision about preservation for 2010 a realization price for own natural gas for the designated companies at the level of 2009.Own gas (about 20 billion cu m a year) has been realized for household needs.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:42:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Broadcast of another two foreign channels, Russian, Chinese, permitted in Ukraine</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The National Council on TV and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine permitted broadcasting of another two foreign channels, Russian and Chinese, National Council Chairman Volodymyr Manzhosov told a press conference.“The list of programs, with contents complying with requirements of the European Convention on transborder TV and rebroadcast of which on the Ukrainian territory is not limited to the National Council decision, was added by two foreign channels. This is the Russian language channel of the Chinese Central TV named TV Russian and the Russian TV channel Country,” he said.Manzhosov specified that both channels spread a signal via satellite platforms and are information-enlightenment channel. The Chinese channel is broadcasted in the coded format, and the Russian - in an easy access.For today, broadcast of 123 foreign TV channels is permitted in Ukraine.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:29:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>European Commissioner: Ukraine may join European Energy Community in half-year or year</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has met European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger in Kyiv on Wednesday. The Ukrainian premier spoke for an early analysis to be carried out by the European Commission for a new Ukrainian gas market law that may speed up Ukraine's accession to the European Energy Community (EEC).Commissioner Oettinger promised that the law will be examined for compliance with EU norms next week. The commissioner described the adoption by Ukraine of the Law "On the Principles of the Natural Gas Market" as a big step towards a common EU energy market. "I think that Ukraine's membership in the European Energy Community could become a reality over the next half-year or year,” he said.Azarov supported a proposal of the European Commissioner to establish a joint tripartite commission between Ukraine, the EU and Russia, which would examine the issue of energy cooperation and promised to brief the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on that.The Ukrainian prime minister also said that Ukraine is interested in modernizing its own gas transit system (GTS) and is ready to invest heavily in this project. "But we must have guarantees that the EU would buy a certain amount of Russian gas to be transported via our territory, and Russia would sell the appropriate amount of gas. Provided that there is a seller and a buyer, it makes sense to invest in upgrading GTS," he said.Oettinger indicated that the EU remains interested in the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transit system, because "this is the best way, as it is a direct communication and this communication provides the highest operational reliability and safety” of gas supply. He confirmed that the dialogue on investing into Ukraine's GTS modernization is in progress.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:13:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>AIS will start assembling Korean jeep Ssang Yong Korando</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Kremenchuk Car Assembly Works, included into a group of AIS companies (Poltava region, Ukraine's center) plans to start assembling first jeeps SsangYong Korando in Q4, Director Mykola Chernysh told journalists.According to him, in October-December, the plant plans to start production of a new model of AWD Korean jeep.“Presently, negotiations are underway. In Q4 we are going to start production. It is jeep. I will not reveal more details,” Chernysh said.Since July 5, the Kremenchuk Works resumed its work that it has been suspending since June according to the plan.In 2009, the plant reduced automobile production by 84.97% or by 21,188 tî 3,748 automobiles against 2008.AIS Corporation, where Kremenchuk Car Assembly Works is included, is an exclusive distributor of such brands as GAZ, ZIL, UAZ, IZH, PAZ, LiAZ, GolAZ, KAVZ, as well as an official dealer of VAZ and KAMAZ.In addition, the corporation has a status of an official dealer of such brands as AUDI (Germany), Renault (France), FAW (China) and Ssang Yong (South Korea), as well as a status of an official importer of automobiles of such brands as Citroen (France) and a dealer of Ford.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:09:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>NBU issues new memorable and jubilee coins</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The National Bank of Ukraine puts into circulation a number of new memorable and jubilee coins.Thus, since today, a jubilee coin is put into circulation of German silver of UAH 5 face value (1 USD - 7.9 UAH), named 925 Years to City of Lutsk of the series Ancient Cities of Ukraine, as well as coins of silver and German silver of UAH 10 and UAH 5 face value respectively, named the Savior and continuing a series Ritual Holidays of Ukraine.In the series Folk Crafts and Trades, coins are issued Weaver of UAH 10 and UAH 5 face value, made of silver and German silver.In addition, the NBU puts into circulation gold coin Bospor Kingdom of UAH 100 face value, of the series Antique Monuments of Ukraine.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:57:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Patriarch Philaret ready for dialogue with Russian Orthodox Church, but wants local recognition for UOC Kyiv Patriarchate</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC Kyiv Patriarchate) is ready for a dialogue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC Moscow Patriarchate) and the Russian Orthodox Church, but the goal of this dialogue is the most important here, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Patriarch Philaret said after Divine Service at the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr Monument at St. Volodymyr's Hill in Kyiv on Wednesday.“If the goal of the dialogue is a return to UOC Moscow Patriarchate, so we do not need such a dialogue,” Patriarch Philaret stressed.He said “We, the Ukrainians, want to have our independent state, so we ready at any time to begin a dialogue with the UOC Moscow Patriarchate, but it must be a dialogue that the Ecumenical Patriarchate had with the Bulgarian, Greek, Romanian, Serbian, Georgian and even Russian church, that is, for the recognition of our church as local and its admission to the prayer unity.Patriarch Philaret said that the UOC Kyiv Patriarchate will be praying for such a dialogue and believes that God will lead the church to it.The UOC Kyiv Patriarchate Primate added that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate is self-sufficient, it has 14 million believers, and therefore will be able to exist, but "we still want to have a prayerful union with the entire Orthodox world".As UKRINFORM reported, on September 9, 2009 by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr (Sabodan) decided to launch a dialogue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in order to restore unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, which then was supported by the Kyiv Patriarchate. Two working groups even held meetings to prepare for the dialogue. But then the process slowed down.As reported, the Russian Orthodox Church Synod said in a special statement on Monday that the “dissenters” may return to the “canonic church” through penitence.The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1992.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:47:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Negative trends continue prevailing on insurance market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The rating agency Credit-Rating notes that negative trends continue prevailing on the Ukrainian insurance market. Mainly it concerns insurance of movable and immovable property that is the object of a pledge in bank crediting.The basis of income from the main insurance business continues to reduce; a trend has been preserved toward further reduction in the volumes of both collected net premiums and net payments of insurance compensations.Operating expenses in total on the market continue to be at a rather high level, stably exceeding 70%, and a combined index of losses (the amount of the gross payments level against operating expenses in the earned payments) makes up about 100%.Under such conditions, the companies are not able to increase the level of insurance indemnity payment without detriment to profitability of its business.Since last autumn, noticeable intensification of internal outward reinsurance has been observed. Its ratio in gross premiums on the insurance market by results of Q4 2009 exceeded 55%, and in January-March - 48%.On the whole, the insurance sector today undergoes a period of tense waiting for changes in the sphere of regulation and supervision, as well as introduction of a number of mandatory types of insurance, announced by state representatives (the matter concerns some types of agricultural insurance and mandatory medical insurance).While forecasting the state of the market, the rating agency believes that the crisis phenomena in the sector will be preserved for the most part of the year and estimates a drop in the insurance payments in 2010 approximately at 25%.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:40:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Interbank closes with euro stabilization</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Trading on the Ukrainian interbank currency market closed at 7.8930-7.8960 UAH/USD.According to the InterBusinessConsulting Company, quotations in the European currency stabilized at 10.2550-10.2610 UAH/EUR.The National Bank entered the market with purchase of dollars at 7.8942 UAH/USD.Earlier, trading on the interbank ended at 7.8930-7.8960 UAH/USD, 10.2640-10.2720 UAH/EUR.The NBU purchased dollars at 7.8952 UAH/USD.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:20:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrsibbank planned to be additionally capitalized at USD 8mln</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The recommended level of additional capitalization of one of the largest in Ukraine Ukrsibbank makes up about USD 8 million, Head of the bank's Supervisory Council Jean-Francois Varlet stated.“The bank's total balance is USD 5 billion. We will soon pay those USD 8 million. We have no problems with the Ukrainian stress test,” he noted.In his turn, Antonio Bergalio, Chief Financial Director of Pravex-bank, included into a group of the large banks according to the NBU classification, noted that the recommended amount of the the bank's additional capitalization is “not large”, however he failed to specify what exactly the amount is.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:18:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Justice Ministry agrees with ban for soldiers, prisoners to vote in local elections</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine's Justice Ministry says a ban put in the local election law for soldiers and prisoners to go to the polls is absolutely right, Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych told reporters on Wednesday."Nowhere in the world you can find that military personnel or prisoners are entitled to vote in local elections," he said, stressing that elections to the Verkhovna Rada and local councils "are of different nature"."In local elections, the territorial community chooses a local government, and just imagine that in a village of 2,000 people there is a military unit with 3,000 conscripts" Lavrynovych said.According to him, the soldiers temporarily stay in the territory, so they should not be entitled to elect local authorities."Man comes, serves and returns home," the minister explained.According to him, the same is for the prisoners, who are also temporarily located in a given territory. So they also should not be entitled to vote in local elections, the minister believes.He noted that this rule had existed before, and the Council of Europe had no claims against it.Elections of deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, local councils and village, township, municipal chairpersons are scheduled for October 31.The law stipulates that local elections scheduled for October 31 should be held by the majority-proportional system without participation of blocs of political parties. Elections of deputies of village and township councils, as well as village, township and municipal chairpersons shall be held by the system of relative majority in single-seat constituencies.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:06:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Canadian Secova Metals Corp. intends to purchase gold deposit</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Canadian company Secova Metals Corp. intends to purchase 90% of the gold deposit Serhiyivske, Dnipropetrovsk region.A memorandum on mutual understanding on purchase of the deposit was signed with private owners, the official website of the Canadian company reads.Secova Metals Corp intends to finance all prospecting works on the deposit.The Serhiyivske interior was prospected by Ukrainians in the 1990s, but they stopped work due to a lack of the budgetary funds.According to estimates, gold stock in the deposit makes up from 356,000 ounces (over 11 tons).By the resource potential, Dnipropetrovsk region ranks as one of the first in Ukraine. The region has several gold deposits.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:01:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Tihipko: Ukraine fulfills all IMF requirements for getting loan</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine has fulfilled all requirements of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get a Stand-By Arrangement, Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tihipko has said on Wednesday.“We have fulfilled all conditions, and I am sure we will today see a positive decision of the IMF Executive Board on extending a USD 14.9bn Stand-By Arrangement to Ukraine,” he said.According to the deputy premier, about 80% of the loan will be used to replenish international reserves of National Bank of Ukraine and 20% for the financing of budget deficit.Tihipko also said that in 2010 Ukraine may count on the tranche of about USD 3 billion. By his estimate, roughly USD 2 billion of these funds can be used to finance the budget deficit.As UKRINFORM reported, the IMF Executive Board is today to decide whether to give Ukraine almost USD 15 million loan for 2.5 years.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:42:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Experts forecast slowing down of economic growth in H2</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. In H2 2010, the economic growth will slow down in Ukraine, this forecast was made public by Head of the analytical department of Investment Capital Ukraine group of companies Oleksandr Valchyshen.“According to our estimates, following a confident growth at 6.3% over H1, the GDP real growth rates will slow down to 3.2% against the same period of the previous year,” the expert noted. On the whole, according to his estimate, a growth of the real GDP will make up 4.8% this year.According to Valchyshen, such an expectation as to the economy dynamics was caused, first, by the expected slowing down of the economic growth in the world economy that will lead to slowing down of industrial production rates in such basic and export-oriented branches as metallurgy, machine building and chemistry.Second, according to the analyst, slowing down of rates as to resumption of domestic demand is expected due to the new budgetary policy of the government, the top priority task of which is renewal of the creditors' trust, primarily including the IMF.As UKRINFORM reported, a growth of Ukraine's GDP over H1 2010 made up about 6.3% against the same period of the previous year.Moody`s prognosticates Ukraine's GDP growth at 3.3% in 2010 and 4.5% - in 2011.The government's forecast of the GDP growth for this year makes up 3.7%.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:37:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine harvests over 22mln tons of grain</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainian farm companies have harvested over 22 million tons of grain and leguminous crops as of July 27, Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said at the government meeting.He also notes that yield will benefit due to better weather, and remembered the fact that excessive atmospheric precipitates in the first summer decades negatively influenced harvesting and its quality.According to the Ministry of Agricultural Policy, 9.084 hectares under crops have been threshed that amounts to 76% out of the estimated harvest, with the average yield capacity of 24.2 centners per hectare.Thus, farmers have gathered 13.68 million tons of grain, 7.56 million tons of barley, 441,000 tons of peas, 262,000 tons of rye and 1,229 tons of rape.Earlier, the ministry decreased the estimated yield of grain and leguminous crops by 4.4-5.5% or 2-2.5 million tons to 43 million tons in 2010.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:07:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine, Brazil in visa liberalization talks</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Horin has on Wednesday met Brazil's Ambassador to Ukraine Antonio Fernando Cruz de Mello, UKRINFORM reported quoting the Foreign Ministry press-service.The sides discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation in political, trade-economic, military and technical, and aerospace areas.The Ukrainian diplomat told the Brazilian ambassador that the Ukraine had fulfilled all necessary internal procedures to enact the Intergovernment Ukraine-Brazil Agreement on Partial Abolition of Visas and awaits the same step from Brazil.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Banks ready to renew crediting under conditions of further economic growth</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. International and Ukrainian banks are ready to resume crediting under conditions of further economic growth, Raiffeisen Bank Aval CEO Volodymyr Lavrenchuk told a forum of leading financing institutes.According to the banker, 'local investments' should become the main source of the economy financing and consumer credits that will lead to cheapening of credits.“Now it is possible to speak about a large “financial cushion” for the perspective that speaks about the available interest to develop further and grow. Resumption of crediting depends not only on the banks' possibility to extend credits, but on ability of the environment to service the debts, therefore, the crediting potential depends on the potential of the economy... The economy growth this year makes up 3.5%. This is a very low growth that speaks about the economy fixation. Trends of the credit portfolio are directed towards a drop. The credit portfolio has decreased over six months,” Lavrenchuk noted.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:59:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine - third CIS country by foreign direct investments</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/.  According to data made public in a report at the United National Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Ukraine ranks third among CIS countries by the volume of foreign direct investments.Dynamics of foreign direct investments to the CIS countries' economies, according to UN, was negative over recent years. Russian remains a leader that got USD 55.073 million in 2007, USD 75.461 million in 2008 and USD 38.722 million in 2009.Kazakhstan ranks second, its share makes up, respectively, USD 11.096 million, USD 15.755 million and USD 12.649 million.Ukraine occupies the third position as to inflow of investments that got USD 9.891 million in 2007, USD 10.913 million in 2008 and decreased indexes in 2009 to USD 4.816 million.As to investments made to the third countries' economies, a sharp decline took place in Ukraine. In 2007, the volume made up USD 673 million, in 2008 - USD 1.010 billion, and last year - only USD 162 million.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:44:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrainian stock market on rise</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Trading session on the Ukrainian stock exchanges has on Wednesday opened with growing quotations and lack of market activity.Thus, the highest growth is for securities of JSC Kriukiv Car Building Works (+3.38%), Poltava Ore Mining & Dressing Plant (+1.18%) and Ukrnafta (+1.76%).Shares of Yasynivsky Coking Plant are falling (-0.43).PFTS index remains unchanged at 806.33 points.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:43:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>President signs law on public purchases for UEFA EURO 2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/.  President Viktor Yanukovych has signed amendments to the law on public procurement and law on organizing and hosting the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, the presidential press-service has reported.It is said that the instrument will help organize the European football championship at high level.Notably, the law simplifies some procedures and is intended to ensure a more efficient use of budgetary funds, timely preparation of Ukraine for the championship and fulfillment of commitments that Ukraine had undertaken as regards UEFA EURO 2012.The law stipulates that the procurement of goods, works and services for the funds administered by a specially authorized central executive authority responsible for preparation and holding of UEFA EURO 2012 may be implemented through the purchase procedure of one party without a consent of an authorized procurement authority, whereby the customer concludes a contract for the purchase with a party after negotiations with this party are held.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:32:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>NBU cuts net profit three times</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The National Bank of Ukraine in 2009 compared to 2008 decreased its profit more than three times to UAH 2.88 billion (UAH 7.90/USD 1), the NBU press service has reported, following the results of the 2009 financial statements.According to the statement, the NBU net profit made up UAH 15.2 billion in 2009. At the same time, net commission income amounted to UAH 466 million.The central bank direct staff costs, totaled 1.32 billion last year, sales general and administration costs were at UAH 548 million, net increase of reserves reached UAH 13.25 billion.Besides, in 2009 the NBU allocated to the state budget UAH 608 million, exceeding estimated proceeds over estimated costs for last year.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:05:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Premier Azarov reports stabilization of treasury single account</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/.  The state of a treasury single account has finally stabilized, and the balance will suffice to finance all costs of the state budget, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said at the government meeting on Wednesday.He stressed that all administrators of budgetary funds can confidently organize work according to plans and avoid disruptions and delays in funding.At the same time, the prime minister said the government can demand that the administrators adhere to financial discipline.The balance of a treasury single account (TSA), as of July 1 this year, amounted to UAH 7.352 billion (1 USD - 7.9 UAH).According to the State Treasury, the TSA balance in June increased by 34% compared to UAH 5.478 billion on June 1, 2010.The balance of TSA as of January 1, 2010 was UAH 1.055 billion.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:14:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>President Yanukovych: faith to consolidate Ukraine</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has addressed the nation on the Day of Conversion of the Kyiv Russ into Christianity.The head of state called Christianity "a life-giving force”, which helped the Ukrainian people survive in difficult times.He stressed that "the way to welfare and prosperity of our nation lies today not only through economic growth". Faith also plays an important role, as a pledge of consent in society.Yanukovych, who spends holidays in Crimea, has today participated in the Divine Liturgy in honor of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr at the Volodymyr Cathedral in the National Reserve Chersonesos Taurica in Sevastopol. It is the Chersonesos where Great Prince Volodymyr was christened in 988.But the main celebrations took place in Kyiv with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at Cathedral Square of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:34:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine doubles electric power exports</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine increased electric power exports in January-June 2010 compared to the same period last year by 49.2% to 2.107 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), according to the Ministry of Fuel and Energy.The increase is due to the resumption of supplies to Belarus, where for six months Ukraine delivered 1.564 billion kWh (after 26.8 million kWh in January-June 2009). 74.2% of the total supply of Ukrainian electric power abroad falls on Belarus.Exports to Slovakia fell by 74.3% to 251.1 million kWh, Hungary - 38.5% to 226.5 million kWh. Exports to Romania grew by 145.5% to 61.6 million kWh. Moldova purchased 3.5 million kWh of Ukrainian electric power, as same as in the first half of 2009.Electric power generation in Ukraine rose for 6 months by 11.1% to 93.322 billion kWh. Including nuclear power plants increased production by 6.5% to 43.619 billion, HPPs - 13.9% to 37.33 billion, TPPs and PSPPs - 27%  to 8.308 billion, a block-stations and municipal HPPs - 10.2% to 4.063 billion kilowatt/hours. Wind power plants produced 2.9 million kWh of electric power after to 0.2 million kWh for 6 months in 2009.Electric power consumption by sectors of national economy and people increased by 11.8% to 73.614 billion kWh through higher electric power consumption in metallurgical industry by 28.7%, machine-building - by 19.4%, chemical and petrochemical industry - by 12.1%.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:15:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Dynamo beat Gent in first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. FC Dynamo Kyiv started their first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie with a convincing 3-0 win against KAA Gent at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday, UKRINFORM reported.Andriy Yarmolenko opened the scoring in the 19th-minute with Andriy Shevchenko (80') and Roman Zozulya (90'+1') scored in the second half.Dynamo and Gent will play their second leg on Wednesday, August 4 in Belgium.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:52:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Metal-makers increase coke import</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Coke import to Ukraine grew by 26.9% to 23,800 tons at USD 8.74 million in June compared to May.Coke import boosted 77.9 times to 203,390 tons at USD 56.46 million over January-June against the respective period of 2009.In June, 11,550 tons of coke at USD 4.71 million was imported from the Russian Federation and 10,120 tons of coke at USD 3.35 million from Kazakhstan. Ukrainian integrated iron and steel mills imported 2,130 tons of coke at USD 680,000 from Poland.Coke import decreased by 79.7% to 249,520 tons at USD 68.46 million in 2009 compared to 2008.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:31:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Stock market on rise</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. After the trading session on the Ukrainian stock exchange, stock indices have closed by growth.Ukrainian Equity Index (UX), calculated by the Ukrainian Exchange, on the basis of July 27 rose by 1.22% to 2024.91 points with daily sales reaching UAH 52 million in 2,502 transactions (UAH 7.90/USD 1).September UX futures closed on Tuesday lower the basic index by 7.41 points at 2,017.50 points markPFTS Index following trades advanced by 0.97%, having closed at 806.33 points mark. Trading volume on the stock market amounted to UAH 13 million in 1,610 transactions.At the same time, the broad index of the Ukrainian stock market, UAI-50 (FundMarket) advanced by 0.62% to 48.45 points.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:26:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine boosts cast iron export</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine increased cast iron export 4.9 times to 194,050 tons in June 2010 against May.Proceeds from cast iron export have grown 4.8 times to USD 98.93 million.The major buyer of Ukrainian cast iron became the U.S. in June, which share in the Ukrainian cast iron export made up 98,970 tons or 51%.Cast iron export has risen by 18.6% and amounted to 771,350 tons at USD 303.92 million over January-June 2010 against the respective period of 2009.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:28:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Love stone presented to Myrhorod from Cana in Galilee</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. A unique gift, a Stone of Love from Cana in Galilee, was presented to Myrhorod, UKRINFORM said quoting Myrhorod City Council press serviceMyrhorod became the fifth Ukrainian city in which  the symbolic monument was brought by Alex Shyriay, a citizen of Israel. He plans to set up similar monuments in 25 cities of Ukraine, in total. Earlier, such monuments were put in Odesa, Skvyra, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kamianets-Podilsky.Meanwhile, the Stone of Love has been keeping at the City Council premises. As city mayor Oleksandr Pautov said, the opening ceremony will be held within the City Day celebration in fall.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:52:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Interest rates on hryvnia credits fall to 14.82% in June</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Interest rates on credits in June 2010, extended over a month to non-financial corporations, fell in the hryvnia to 14.82% (by 24 basis points), in the dollars - grew to 11.26% (by 63 basis points), in the euro - increased to 11% (by 63 basis points), the NBU press service informs.Interest rates on credits extended in June to the households, dropped in the hryvnia to 25.30% (by 158 basis points), in the dollars - grew to 13.59% (by 34 basis points), in the euro - grew to 16.11% (by 43 basis points).Interest rates on deposits attracted in June from non-financial corporations in the hryvnia dropped to 6.88% (by 158 bps), in the dollars - grew to 6.29% (by 31 bps), in the euro dropped to 4.66% (by 114 bps). Interest rates on deposits attracted in June from the households fell in the hryvnia to 14.68% (by 64 bps), in the dollars - dropped to 9.07% (by 44 bps), in the euro - fell to 8.14% (by 35 bps).]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:31:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Ukraine ups ore supplies to world market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine, in June 2010 against May, increased iron ore export by 4.7% tî 2.522 million tons.Proceeds from iron ore exports grew by 25.4% tî USD 236.03 millionNon-sintered ore export rose by 1.5% tî 1.453 million tons, and sintered ore - by 9.4% tî 1.07 million tons.In January-June 2010 against January-June 2009, iron ore export grew by 53.1% tî 15.607 million tons at USD 978.43 million.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:16:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>First telemedicine network launched in Ukraine</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The first test telemedicine network has been launched in Ukraine, built within the frames of the Mobile Medicine project. It united four centers: Health Ministry, State Clinical Scientific-Practical Center of telemedicine in Kyiv and Donetsk and Zakarpattia (city of Uzhhorod) regional hospitals.The constructed TV network enables doctors and patients of Donetsk and Zakarpattia regional hospitals to transmit diagnostic data in the on-line regime, to get consultations of branch specialists, to convene conferences of special doctors, to participate in conferences without leaving a working place, etc. A special attention is paid to protection of the network channels from unsanctioned editing, printing and removal of medical information about patients, as well as ensuring its confidentiality.Next step will be connection of medical establishments in Odesa, Zhytomyr and Sumy regions to the network.The project was realized by MTS jointly with the Health Ministry under the auspices of the UN Representation in Ukraine.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:59:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Coal industry ministry makes preliminary list of mines attractive for investments</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The Coal Industry Ministry determined a preliminary list of mines, attractive for investments and planned for privatization in the future, the ministry's press service informed.An approximate volume of investments in coal production enterprises/mines having a perspective of development and most attractive for privatization amounts to UAH 10,947 billion (USD 1/UAH 7.90).An approximate volume of investments in coal production enterprises/mines that may have a perspective for development under condition of a substantial change in the price policy, implementation of highly productive cleaning equipment for processing of low coals, making up for a lag in capital construction, makes up UAH 7.842 billion.The Coal Industry Ministry also prepared a preliminary list of coal production enterprises (mines) that are proposed for liquidation in 2011-2015.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:12:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>UCBU urges Cabinet to help form domestic long-term financial resource</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. The Ukrainian Credit-Bank Union association (UCBU) has spoken in favor of immediate amendments to the current legislation needed to revive economy lending, reduce loan risks and provide conditions for creating long-term domestic financial resource. The UCBU has introduced the respective bill for the government consideration, the UCBU press service announced.According to the UCBU experts, the high priority issues are protection of bank liabilities amid people's panic through deposit differentiation; as well as rights of a conscientious holder of pledge, etc.'Since the specified amendments do not arouse any arguments of the state institutions, i.e. the National Bank of Ukraine and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the UCBU suggests combining certain problems in a separate legislative initiative and adopting in the coming future', Halyna Olifer, the UCBU general director, said.Other issues pursuant to protection of loaner rights will be worked out in the bills being under the Ukrainian Government consideration.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:13:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Most popular names this year - Anastasiya, Maxim</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. According to the Justice Ministry's civilian registry office, since the year start the newborns were named Anastasiyas and Maxims in most cases.On the whole, since the year start in Ukraine about 60 names were the most popular. Among women's names there are such as Anna (Hanna), Daria (Daryna), Sofia, Diana, Mariya, Viktoriya, Tetiana, Khrystyna, Yelyzaveta, Angelina, Veronika. In addition, also such names were popular as Alina, Karina, Valeriya, Yeva, Kateryna, Oleksandra, Polina, Yana, Olha, Iryna, Yuliya and Arina.Among the men's names, the most popular names were Artem, Denys, Danylo (Daniil), Oleksandr, Andriy, Bohdan, Dmytro, Mykyta, Nazar, Kyrylo. Also, among the popular names there were such names as Viktor, Vitaliy, Hlib, Yehor, Ivan, Illia, Artur, Vadym, Tymofiy, Mykhailo, Pavlo, Mykola, Yevhen, Serhiy, Arseniy, Yuriy, Timur, Davyd and Mark.In all the regions, such ancient Slav names remain popular as Vladyslav, Stanislav, Yaroslav, Sviatoslav and Rostyslav.In single instances such names are registered as Karmelita, Esmeralda, Konstantsiya and Spartak.There were also some exotic cases. Parents called their girls Sultanpasha and Zhaklin-Nanyip, and boys - Martin Luter and Dobrynia Nikitich.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:07:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Ukraine looking for volunteers for Vernadsky Research Base in Antarctica</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine has announced a new enrollment of volunteers to work at the Ukrainian Antarctic Vernadsky Research Base (Academician Vernadsky), the Segodnia newspaper reads.The number of volunteers is far from being less, since they can earn nearly one thousand dollars per month. A new expedition to Antarctica is scheduled for March; meanwhile we are considering applications', Volodymyr Bochkariov, the National Antarctic Center spokesman, says.To become a polar explorer, one is required to have 5-year experience (e.g. as an electrician, a biologist or a meteorologist), proper knowledge of English or Spanish, PC skills, and, of course, strong health.According to Bochkariov, 14 people used to be recruited in the group, nowadays they have to send only ten due too insufficient financing. One expedition costs USD 1 million per year.February 6, 1996 is considered to be the Ukrainian Antarctic Station's birthday, the date when the British station on Galindez Island in the Argentine islands near the west coast of the main land was farmed out to Ukraine and renamed after Academician Vernadsky.In 2004, Ukraine became a member of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.Scientific researches at the station involve upper atmospheric physics, ozone, meteorology, geomagnetism, ecology, physiology research and other directions, having practical use.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:52:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Kyiv Patriarchate claims they aren&#039;t “dissents”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate awaits a constructive dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church to achieve unity of Ukrainian orthodoxy, Bishop Yevstratiy (Zorya), head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Kyiv Patriarchate, said in an interview with UKRINFORM correspondent.Commenting on yesterday's appeal of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was held within a pastoral visit of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill to Ukraine, Bishop Yevstratiy said that today the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate has adopted a statement in which the UOC Kyiv Patriarchate “does not recognize itself a dissident church”.“The Kyiv Patriarchate does not consider itself a dissident church. We have no differences with the Russian Orthodox Church either in dogma or act of worship, churching and canons. That is why there is no split with the Ukrainian Church, there is only a juridical distribution, and this is absolutely different things,” Yevstratiy Zorya emphasized.As UKRINFORM reported, the Russian Orthodox Church Synod said in a special statement on Monday that the “dissents” may return to the “canonic church” through penitence.The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1992.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:39:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Government intends to fully repay VAT debts in near future</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Over two to three months, the government intends to fully refund VAT debts, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told a press conference.“Since August 1, the government will start realization of the project on VAT refund in the form of bonds with, naturally, the following monetization of those bonds. We set a task to ourselves to fully repay the debts on the value added tax over two to three months. Primarily, this will concern all our exporters. The amount that we are planning to allocate is gigantic - almost UAH 17 billion (USD 1/UAH 7.90). These are debts that our predecessors left for us,” the Prime Minister underscored.He added that the government hopes that enterprises to which the VAT has been refunded will send those funds for modernization and reconstruction that will lead to creation of new working places.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:38:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Cabinet may set quotas for food grain export</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Agrarian Policy Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk does not rule out that the government will have to introduce a quota for food grain export following completion of harvesting, Prysiazhniuk told a press conference at the Zhytomyr Regional State TV Company in Zhytomyr region.According to him, harvesting was delayed in Ukraine and if earlier it was forecasted to gather 46 million tons of grain, now it is expected to have 42 million tons.“At the same time, when harvesting started in central regions of Ukraine, it became clear that it gives high quality grain. Although, a schedule of harvesting changed, they succeeded in getting great volumes of high quality grain. Also, under good weather conditions, it will be possible to harvest the quality yield of corn, and it means that there is not a catastrophe with harvesting in Ukraine,” the minister assured.He also specified that with taking into consideration the domestic needs for food grain consumption in Ukraine, the state can export about 16-17 billion tons of fodder grain, and proceeds from this may even exceed the last year gains.In total, Prysiazhniuk noted, in case of need “the government will control exports of both fodder and food grain and in case of need it will introduce quotas for export of the latter.”Heat and rains this summer had substantially reduced the yield announced by the new power. Now, traders expect to export 3-3.5 million tons of food grain from Ukraine. If it occurs, Ukraine will have to start importing back a certain volume of grain in spring.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:20:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Over 60% of harvested grain - bread-grain</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Approximately 60-65% of grain harvested in Ukraine is bread-grain and by its quality it complies with the second and third class indexes, Vice Prime Minister Viktor Slauta told journalists during a working visit to Chernihiv region.According to the government member, in the majority of Ukrainian regions, bread-grain has better indexes against the previous year, and in some eastern regions first class grain was threshed - with 35% gluten.According to Slauta, in the Ukrainian plant growing sector, more and more enterprises appear with well developed technologies for growing agricultural crops and with arranged stable production. Yields with such producers are less subject to the weather impact and all the agrarians should strive for this.“In some places, agricultural producers are not able to achieve total use of technology, but we will come to this in a year or two,” the Vice Prime Minister noted.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:01:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine to build largest in Black Sea region terminal for liquefied gas</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. In Ukraine, preparation has started for setting up the largest in the Black Sea region terminal on liquefied gas transshipment, Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko told the international conference in Odesa today.The minister noted that presently variants of this terminal location are under consideration. Transshipment capacity of the first stage of this terminal will make up 5 billion, and the second - 10 billion cu m a year.Yuriy Boyko informed that Ukraine is interested in as soon as possible realization of this project that is primarily intended for European partners.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:43:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>President demands reforms for Interior Ministry</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. President Viktor Yanukovych has met Interior Minister Anatoliy Mohiliov to discuss reformation of the Interior Ministry system, UKRINFORM reported quoting the presidential press-service.During the meeting the head of state noted that nowadays the citizens submit many complaints regarding the work of the police. People want to feel themselves saved - both physically and in terms of protecting their freedoms and rights, the President said.Yanukovych stressed that this autumn he expects a concept from the Interior Ministry on reforming law enforcement agencies.The President drew attention of the Interior Minister to the problem of protecting the rights of journalists. "Those cases that have been in our country, can not but cause concern," Yanukovych said. He added that he would personally control every investigation into violation of the rights of journalists and expects from the minister fresh information on the issue.In turn, Mohiliov noted that the restructuring in the internal affairs system has been long on the agenda and is extremely needed. The ministry is studying the experience of such reforms in Russia and Georgia. He assured that the concept of reforming the ministry will be prepared in a term set by the head of state.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:39:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Yenakiyeve miners achieve payment of multimillion debts on wages</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Yenakiyeve miners, threatening by a strike due to non-payment of the wages over many months, have achieved their goal. The State Treasury transferred UAH 33.152 million (USD 1/UAH 7.90) to the account of Ukrvuhilliatorfrekonstrutsia, the State Treasury press service informed.The funds on the program for restructuring of the coal and peat production industry, including repayment of debts on electric energy consumed over the previous years, envisage repayment of debts on wages at the Chervony Profintern, Yunkom and Novogradska-2 mines of the city of Yenakiyeve, Donetsk region.Miners' strike in the form of non-raising from the mine was cancelled.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:36:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine ranks 142nd out of 183 at World Bank Doing Business rating</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. As of today Ukraine has held 142nd position out of 183 countries at the World Bank Doing Business rating.To evaluate the quality of business registration in countries around the world, the World Bank offers the following ten categories: company registration, obtaining building permits, labor, property registration, credit, securing investors, taxation, international trading, contracts and bankruptcy.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:27:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Wage arrears 5% down in June</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. In Ukraine, the total wage arrears have made up UAH 1.79 billion (UAH 7.9/USD 1) as of July 1, 2010, that is 5% less against figures as of June 1 and 21.6% more compared to the early year, the State Statistics Committee reported.Wage arrears of the economically active enterprises (institutions, organizations) as of July 1, 2010 amounted to UAH 1.19 billion (UAH 1.3 billion as of June 1, 2010), wage arrears of economically inactive entities totaled UAH 0.07 billion, wage arrears of enterprises-bankrupts were UAH 0.53 billion.Average wage in Ukraine in 2009 totaled UAH 1,906.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:24:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>President approves law on state-private partnership</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych signed the law on state and private partnership passed by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on July 1.The law determines ultimate principles for state-private partnership, i.e. equality before the law, mutual benefits, equitable distribution of risks, and private partner selection on a bid basis.A legislative regulation of the relations between the state and business is to attract investments to economy and contribute to industry infrastructure modernization, as well as, more efficient employment of the state property.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:18:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>During Patriarch Kirill&#039;s visit to Kyiv public order ensured by almost 7.500 law enforcers</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. During a visit by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill to Kyiv, over 1,800 police officers and servicemen of the internal forces are attracted daily to protection of the public order, the department of the Interior Ministry Main Agency in Kyiv informed.In total, during all events envisaged by the four-day program of Patriarch Kirill's visit to Kyiv, security and law and order have been ensured by about 7,500 law enforcers.As the agency informed, yesterday, the police detained eight participants in the action against a visit by Patriarch Kirill, representatives of the All-Ukrainian Association Svoboda (Freedom) for violation of rights for carrying out mass events.The Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv pronounced a verbal warning to the detained participants in the action.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:16:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>President approves law on judicial system</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. President Viktor Yanukovych signed today the Law “On the Judicial System and Status of Judges,” adopted by the Parliament on July 7.The law provides for creation of the Supreme Special Court of Ukraine for consideration of civil and criminal cases that will operate as the court of cassation; reduction in the number of judges at the Supreme Court of Ukraine; limitation of functions of the Supreme Court of Ukraine; liquidation of courts martial; mandatory appointment of judges elected without a time limit as members of the Supreme Council of Justice.The Law establishes a procedure according to which every court of the general jurisdiction is a separate manager of the budget funds.The law is aimed at reformation of the judicial system in compliance with international standards, rising of the role of the court and a status of the judge in the society, ensuring independence of the courts from influence, simplification of the procedure of an access to the court for every citizen.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:04:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Naftogaz will get losses at UAH 10bln in 2010</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Losses of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine will make UAH 10 billion (USD 1/UAH 7.90) in 2010, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told a press conference.“Naftogaz will end this year with losses at UAH 10 billion. Last year, it had losses at UAH 50 billion,” the Premier noted.To remind, earlier Azarov stated that the government tasked the Fuel and Energy leadership, as well as NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, to make the company profitable before the end of this year.As it was reported, according to Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko, Naftogaz will get additionally UAH 1.2 billion by the end of this year as a result of raising household gas tariffs and tariffs for communal heat energy enterprises since August 1. Boyko specified that the designated funds are planned to be sent to development of gas production in Ukraine.NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine unites the largest oil and gas production enterprises of the country. It is a monopolist on transit and storage of natural gas at underground storages, as well as on transportation of oil by pipelines via the territory of Ukraine.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:36:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine to attend London meeting of Assembly of Contributors to Chernobyl Shelter Fund</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will host on July 27-28 a meeting of the Assembly of Contributors to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Foreign Minister Spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov told reporters on Tuesday.The meeting will be attended by a Ukrainian delegation at the head of Deputy Emergencies Minister Volodymyr Kholosha. The delegation will also involve Ukrainian lawmakers, officials with the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), the Foreign Ministry, the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee, as well as leadership of the state-run special enterprise “Chornobyl NPP”.It is expected that the Ukrainian delegation will brief the Assembly of Contributors to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account about Ukrainian position regarding the state of project implementation at the industrial site of the Chornobyl NPP, discuss the ways of solving problems concerning the construction of the plant for processing liquid radioactive waste, make proposals on the timing of completion of projects on the construction of new safe spent nuclear fuel storage, etc.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:32:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>NBU ups gold volumes by 0.8% in reserves</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The National Bank of Ukraine increased gold volumes in the official reserve assets (international reserves) over H1 2010 by 0.806% tî 0.876 million troy ounces, in nominal terms - by 14% tî USD 1.082 billion, the National Bank's website reads.At the same time, over January-June, the gold ratio in the NBU international reserves reduced from 3.75% tî 3.67%.As of late June, the volume of foreign hard currencies in the National Bank reserves amounted to USD 28.430 billion, including securities - USD 16.623 billion, currency and deposits - USD 11.806 billion.A reserve position at the International Monetary Fund over half a year remains unchanged at USD 0.03 million, special drawing rights as of the end of six months made up USD 10.68 million (as of the beginning of this year - USD 63.03 million).The gold volume that is not included into special drawing rights as of the end of June amounted to USD 19.99 million.According to the National Bank, the international reserves, increased by 16.76% over January-June 2010 tî USD 29.523 billion.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:26:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Mining and smelting enterprises will manage without privileged tariffs for railway transportation - Premier Azarov</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov stands against extending privileged tariffs for transit by rail freightage for metallurgical and chemical enterprises, he told a press conference.He also assured that abolishment of privileges for transit by rail freightage will not have a great impact on metallurgical and chemical enterprises. “Everything will be normal with chemists and metallurgists,” Azarov assured.To remind, the Ukrainian government and representatives of mining and smelting enterprises signed the Memorandum of mutual understanding in November 2008 with the aim of normalization of the situation in the sector, in particular, stabilization of prices for mining, coal and metallurgical products, preservation of working places, wages and social guarantees, as well as for development of the domestic market.Within the frames of the memorandum, government resolution No. 925 of October 14, 2008, imposed a moratorium on raising tariffs for transit by rail freightage for mining and smelting and chemical enterprises, as well as proposed the National Electricity Regulation Commission to suspend since November 1, 2008, raising of prices for electric energy for them. First, the resolution was adopted for the period till January 1, 2009, and then it was prolonged for Q1 2009, and in early April - till July 1, 2009, and in late June - till October 1, 2009.Later, the Cabinet prolonged the memorandum of mutual understanding with mining and smelting enterprises till the end of 2009, in particular, that extending of preferences to enterprises will be carried out in case they realize metal products on the domestic market at prices no higher than export prices.At the end of 2009, the Cabinet prolonged operation of the memorandum for Q1 and than for Q2 of 2010. On July 1, the memorandum lost its effect.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:03:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Foreign Ministry says Ukraine will not recognize Kosovo</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine has not changed its stance on recognition of Kosovo's independence, Foreign Ministry's spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov has said.According to him, Ukraine's position is based on the fundamental international legal instruments, "we adhere to the principle of unconditional respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the internationally recognized borders".At the same time, Dikusarov stressed that Ukraine, as one of the founders of the United Nations, respects and takes into account the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice over Kosovo.The International Court of Justice in the Hague issued their advisory opinion Thursday afternoon ruling the declaration of independence of the former Serbian province of Kosovo is not in violation of international law, though it is non-binding.The Serbian parliament, in an emergency session called Monday, adopted a stating that Serbia will never accept the secession of Kosovo.Kosovo declared its independence on February 17, 2008. It has been recognized by a total of 69 countries so far, including the United States and 22 of the 27 European Union member states (with the exception of Spain, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, and Cyprus).]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:00:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Foreign Ministry: incident with Ukrainian human rights activist after Russia entry denial over</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has received explanations from the Russian Foreign Ministry over an incident involving Ukrainian human rights activist Vasyl Ovsiyenko who was denied entry into Russia and considers the incident is over, MFA spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov said at a news briefing on Tuesday.According to him, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko had a telephone conversation with Russian Acting Foreign Minister Andrey Denisov. The incident was also discussed at the meeting of Ukraine's Ambassador to Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry.Dikusarov stressed that "the Russian side at a high level expressed regret at Ukrainian citizen Ovsiyenko's denial of entry into Russia. He added that Moscow confirmed the immutability of decisions of the Russian President on the waiver of the practice of "black lists" in Ukrainian-Russian relations.As UKRINFORM reported, on the night of July 23 Russian border guards removed Ovsienko in Bryansk from the train going to Moscow.A former Soviet political prisoner, Vasyl Ovsiyenko, was heading for the International Civil Forum in the village of Kuchino, Russia's northern Perm region]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:45:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Agriculture 90% ready to transfer to market relations - agrarian policy ministry</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Agrarian Policy Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk is convinced that the Ukrainian agriculture is 90% ready to the full transfer to market relations, Mykola Prysiazhniuk told a meeting dedicated to discussion of the complex Program for reformation and development of Ukrainian agriculture at the Zhytomyr regional state TV and Radio Company.According to him, “it is a fact, it is the way that the country has voluntarily chosen and along which it successfully moves.”At the same time, Prysiazhniuk noted that the Program for reformation and development of Ukrainian agriculture, worked out by the government, scientists and heads of powerful agricultural corporations, is aimed at qualitative reformation of key agricultural branches.He specified that since the agrarian sector of the country's economy has successfully developed in recent years “the matter could not concern some radical changes, or forced reforms, or reforms “for the sake of reporting or as a tribute to fashion or to please Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.”On the whole, Prysiazhniuk said, the country has all prerequisites for successful reformation of the agroindustrial complex.The minister also named priorities of a plan for the agroindustrial complex reformation, they are: development of plant growing, pig breeding and milk cattle breeding.As it was reported, Agrarian Policy Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk presented on June 16 the Complex State Program of reforms and development of Ukrainian agriculture and the Branch Program on social and economic development of the village territorial communities.The ministry estimates realization of the complex state program of reforms and development of agriculture for 2011-2017 at UAH 85.952 billion (USD 1/UAH 7.90). This amount has been laid down in a concept of the state program published on the website of the Agrarian Policy Ministry.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:39:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Trading on interbank closes at 7.8930-7.8960 UAH/USD, 10.2640-10.2720 UAH/EUR</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 28 /UKRINFORM/. Trading on the interbank currency market completed at 7.8930-7.8960 UAH/USD. According to InterBusinessConsulting, trading in the euro ended at 10.2640-10.2720 UAH/EUR, trading in the ruble - 0.2609-0.2612 UAH/RUB.Today, trading in the dollar on the interbank currency market opened at 7.8910-7.8980 UAH/USD, trading in the euro - 10.2655-10.2770 UAH/EUR, trading in the ruble - 0.2610-0.2613 UAH/RUB. The NBU entered the market with purchase of dollars at 7.8952 UAH/USD.Trading in the dollar on the interbank on July 26 completed at 7.8950-7.8970 UAH/USD. Trading in the euro ended at 10.1905-10.1960 UAH/EUR, in the ruble - 0.2602-0.2605 UAH/RUB. NBU entered the market with purchase of dollars at 7.8960 UAH/USD.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:53:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrainian chess player Brodsky third at tournament in Poland</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  Ukrainian Grand Master Mykhailo Brodsky has taken the third place at the International Chess Festival in Poland, while Bulgaria's Julian Radulksi was the first.The tournament was held under the Swiss system with 9 sets involving 92 chess players.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:37:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine bans imports of FMD-susceptible animals from Russia</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The foot-and-mouth disease has been registered in the Russian Federation, notably in Zabaikalsky Krai (Transbaikal region), according to an official announcement of the International Epizootic Office. Importation of the FMD-susceptible animals and products, made of them, from Siberia Federal District is banned, the State Committee for Veterinary Medicine (SCVM) told UKRINFORM.Other cargo, being imported from this country and subject to control of the SCVM, is to meet the veterinary import requirements as to the items for state veterinary control and supervision.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:36:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Foreign Ministry: Ukraine will not join CSTO</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reiterated that the state would not join the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).“For the President and the Government of Ukraine the issue on the accession to CSTO is not on the agenda,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov told reporters.Dikusarov explained that Ukraine's law on the principles of domestic and foreign policy outlines Ukraine's status as a non-aligned state, hence, Ukraine cannot participate in any military organizations.The MFA spokesman said that related statements of some politicians should be deemed as an individual opinion of these citizens, but not the state.As UKRINFORM reported, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in Kyiv on May 18 that Russia is satisfied with the status of Ukraine as a neutral country. But at the same time, he invited Ukraine to participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.On May 28, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko in an interview with "2000" newspaper stated that he considers Ukraine's accession to CSTO impossible. Moreover, added Hryshchenko, CSTO did not offer Ukraine to join it officially.However, Ukrainian NATO opponents have been repeatedly spoken about accession to CSTO.Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk proposed that Ukraine sign a charter with CSTO, like with NATO, to secure cooperation with the Organization at the political level and join a unified air defense system of the bloc.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:23:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukrainians will possibly visit  Mexico without visas</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Mexico intends to implement a visa free regime for Ukrainians, Mexico Ambassador to Ukraine Berenice Rendon Talavera told in an interview to the Segodnia newspaper.According to her, on average, Mexico issues about 100 visas to Ukrainians a month. “It is possible to say that the number of your citizens visiting us grows since we issue visas for five years, but the number of new approaches for visas do not reduce. Presently, we are working toward implementation of a visa free regime between our countries,” Berenice Rendon Talavera said.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:22:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Azarov: facilitating spiritual development an absolute priority for our state</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has on Tuesday attended the prayer service nearby the monument to Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr at St. Volodymyr's Hill in Kyiv. The prayer service on the eve of commemoration of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr was performed by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr, UKRINFORM reported quoting the government website.Prime Minister Azarov also held a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill."After the prayer and your inspiring sermon at Volodymyr's Hill on Day of Conversion of the Kyiv Rus to Christianity - I have thoughts first and foremost about what good the authorities can make in Ukraine,” Azarov said.He noted that facilitating a spiritual development is an absolute priority for our state."We will do everything to easily built temples, revive monasteries. In particular, the government decided that within a year all institutions and organizations that have no relation to the reserve and the monastery will be removed from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” the Prime Minister emphasized.The head of government expressed satisfaction that the pastoral visit of Patriarch Kirill to Ukraine is running successfully, attracting great attention of the orthodox world.His Holiness Patriarch Kirill thanked Azarov for assistance in organizing the visit, which, in his opinion, "may be an example for many other states”. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said that he and clergy will pray for Azarov's experience, wisdom, love for his people to be better opened at this position and have good fruits for the people.Patriarch Kirill also added "I felt that Ukraine has the biggest potential among the former Soviet Union states. Here is the economy, and nature, and energetic people. So I have no doubt that the people of Ukraine will survive difficult times and take new historic victory".]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:23:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Foreign Ministry: Ukraine-Israel visa-free regime to take force in autumn 2010</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry hopes that all procedures on enacting a no-visa agreement between Ukraine and Israel will take effect even this autumn, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov told reporters on Tuesday.He noted that in Ukraine the instrument has to be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. In this context, Dikusarov voiced hopes that this will happen soon.In Israel the agreement has to be endorsed by the Knesset, an Israeli parliament. According to the MFA spokesman, this procedure will not be delayed by the Israeli side, as all parties are interested in introducing a visa-free regime of travels.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:33:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Four Ukrainians killed in rafting accident in Norway</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  Four Ukrainian citizens have been killed in a rafting accident in central Norway on Saturday. The four were part of a larger group of 13 people that were rafting in the river Sjoa, north of Lillehammer in central Norway, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov told the press on Tuesday.Ukraine's Ambassador to Norway has left for the accident site to help those Ukrainians suffered and facilitate repatriation of the bodies of the dead.The Ukrainian Embassy in Norway reported that eight Ukrainians of that group went home by cars on July 25.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:05:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Central bank: new loans rise to UAH 83bn in June</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  The total volume of new loans (including the amounts on the original loan contracts concluded during the reporting period, as well as the amounts on additional instruments on which there was a change of the amount or interest rate, or amount and interest rate) in June increased to UAH 83,400 billion (1 USD - 7.90 UAH) compared to May and exceeded the average for the previous 12 months (UAH 74.5 billion), the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) said in a statement on Tuesday.According to 12-month cumulative data (annual basis), lending rose to UAH 901.3 billion or by 0.7% year-over-year.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:52:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Tymoshenko-led Batkivshchyna party challenges gas price rise in court</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  Yulia Tymoshenko's opposition party Batkivshchyna (Motherland) has challenged a 50% rise in household gas price in court.According to MP Serhiy Vlasenko of the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT), who laid an action to the District Administrative Court of Kyiv, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had no legal, political and economic grounds and preconditions for making such decision.Moreover, according to the lawmaker, by taking this decision, NERC violated a number of legislative acts, a number of decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as a temporary provision for the establishment of limit prices for natural gas.Vlasenko said that the Motherland party looks forward to an impartial consideration of the claim by the court and that the court will recognize the decision unlawful and cancel it.As UKRINFORM reported, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission on July 13 increased starting August 1 household retail prices for natural gas by an average of 50% to 72.54-295.41 kopeck/cubic meter (USD 1 - UAH 7.90). At the same time, NERC also raised gas prices by 50% for municipal heating companies that deliver heat and hot water to homes.Earlier the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine and the National Forum of Trade Unions had gone to the District Administrative Court of Kyiv on the same occasion.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:40:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Lviv gets first government tranche to repair roads ahead of UEFA EURO 2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  Ukraine's western city of Lviv has received funds for road repair ahead of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy told reporters on Tuesday.According to the city head, the government is clearly fulfilling its obligations to provide execution of work ahead of the future European football championship.The regional center is to get a total of UAH 200 million (1 USD - 7.90 UAH) for road major repair. The funds will come in parts.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:16:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Raiffeisen Bank Aval gets UAH 36mn profit in Q2/2010</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/.  In the second quarter 2010 Raiffeisen Bank Aval has secured profit of UAH 35.894 million (USD 1 - UAH 7.90), while over the same period in 2009 the bank losses made UAH 1 billion, Raiffeisen Bank Aval said in a statement.Over the period under report, the bank assets reduced 0.12% and as of July 1, 2010 totaled UAH 53.983 billion, loans and client debts cut 5% to reach UAH 46,276 billion, liabilities decreased 2% to make UAH 47.554 billion, paid-in capital upped 24% to UAH 3.003 billion and equity capital surged 21% to reach UAH 6.429 billion.PJSC Raiffeisen Bank Aval, founded in March 1992, is one of the largest Ukrainian banks in terms of a number of core parameters.Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG (Austria) owns a 95.93% stake in Raiffeisen Bank Aval.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:04:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Crimea hosting KaZantip sports music festival</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The Crimean village of Popivka, southern Ukraine, is hosting the largest in the CIS Kazantip Z Games summer sports dance music festival.International competitions, performances, live concerts will be staged within seven days on the Black sea coast, the organizers of the festival have said.Among the events are the following extreme sports: Wakeboard (winch version), DirtJumping (BMX and MTB), Skimboard, the 2nd Ukrainian Kitesurfing Championship, Ukrainian Waverunner Championship (freestyle and slalom), as well as beach kinds of sports Volleyball and Frisbee.Break dance battles Best B-boy and Best Show are scheduled as a dance show program.Apart from the rich sports program, the festival quests will be offered sports photos exhibitions, video premiers, master sessions, famous youth brand stores and a lot of contests.Every day will start with yoga practice and finish with scaled parties at two dance pavilions.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:43:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>State Mortgage Institution boosts net profit 2.3 times</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The State Mortgage Institution (SMI) over January-June 2010 has increased net profit 2.3 times compared to the respective period of 2009 to UAH 17.59 million (UAH 7.9/USD 1), the Securities and Stock Market State Commission has reported.Sales net revenue of the SMI in the 1st half of the year fell by 7.12% and made UAH 101.56 million.After 2009 the SMI net profit dropped by 3.41% against 2008 to UAH 17.74 million. At the same time, net revenue grew by 30.94% to UAH 258.59 million.The SMI was founded by the government of Ukraine in October 2004. The major goal of its activity is refinancing of primary mortgage lenders with the help of the right of claim under mortgage loan.The SMI authorized capital as of Q2/2010 has amounted to UAH 200 million.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:53:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Amber museum in Rivne region opens for attendants</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The Amber Museum in Rivne region has opened to the public. The museum at the Amber of Ukraine public enterprise was established long ago. But only official delegations could attend it. Nowadays the museum of the 'sun stone' is removed outside the entity, making it available for public and with no admission fee.Oleksy Hubanov, Deputy Head of the Regional Administration, at the official opening ceremony stressed that it is the first signs that will make a Rivne region unique amber treasure popular. Implementation of other image projects is scheduled for the coming future. They have been kept in secret so far.The experts of the enterprise are ready to hold excursions, showing visitors both ancient and modern jewelries, which are offered for sale.West Ukraine's Rivne region is the only one in the country which has amber deposits, those discovered make up 210 tons and those promising amounts to 1,400 tons.]]></description>
	  <category><![CDATA[]]></category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:51:00 +0300</pubDate>
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        <item>
      <title>Azovstal boosts environmental investments</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. In January-June 2010, Azovstal Steel Mill (Donetsk region), a member of Metinvest Group, invested nearly UAH 30 million (USD 1 - UAH 7.90) into projects aimed at reducing anthropogenic impact on the environment, that is 8 times higher than investments for the same period in 2009, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.It is reported that more than UAH 15 million of that amount is spent within the program of economic and social development of the city of Mariupol for 2010.The main areas of environmental part of the program is the reconstruction of blast furnaces with the introduction of aspiration systems; reconstruction of the sinter plant, the introduction of advanced technology of dry flue gas cleaning, reduction of harmful emissions and industrial waste.The company says the environmental investments within the program is an integral part of the total cost of modernization and reconstruction of the enterprise. In the first half of the year the plant upgraded gas cleaning and aspiration systems at agglomeration shop, replaced gutter shelters of casthouse #6, increased proportion of slag in the converter production, etc.In 2009 Azovstal reduced the production of finished steel by 15.2% compared with 2008 - up to 4,288 million tons; steel - 15.7% to 4,643 million tons; cast iron - 12.9% to 4,016 million tons; coke - 7.5% - to 2,024 million tons.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:50:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Kyiv to participate in electric vehicle race</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The Zero Race project will kick off on August 15 in Geneva, Switzerland. The goal of this race is to draw the society's attention to the environmentally-friendly transport.The race itinerary will go through the European countries, China and North America. The length of the route makes up 30,000 km.Electric vehicles will drive through 150 cities, including Kyiv. The Ukrainian capital is scheduled for September 1.In late November, race competitors will attend the U.N conference in Cancun, Mexico, dedicated to climate changes.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:18:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Russian economists assisting to create Crimean development strategy</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. A group of economists from Russia headed by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Glaziev participates in working out a concept of the Crimean social-economic development strategy on an invitation from the regional government, the press service of the Crimean Council of Ministers informed.“At the first stage of work we were mainly engaged in gathering analytic information about Crimea, estimation of competitive advantages of the Crimean economy,” Glaziev told a meeting with Chairman of the Crimean Council of Minister Vasyl Dzharty.The Crimean Premier noted that Russian experts can participate not only in development of the strategy, but in its realization after it is adopted.“It is necessary for us to create favorable conditions for coming of business and its work so that investors feel themselves comfortably and confidently,” Dzharty said.The Head of the Crimean government added that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych instructed the Crimean leaders to set up “effective conditions for development of the economy, to realize natural and human resources of Crimea.”]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:46:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Interpipe opens new storage facilities in Kazakhstan</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainian company Interpipe opened the third storage facility of pipe products in Kazakhstan, the concern's press service informs.The storage facility that is located in the city of Atyrau allows processing up to 3,000 tons of pipe products monthly. Presently, about 2,000 tons of pipes were shipped to the storage facility.“Opening of the storage facility in Atyrau will allow not only to cut the terms for supply of pipes to the Kazakhstan's western region, but to minimize the clients' expenses,” company CEO Vera Smal has said.She also added “Our products enjoy great demand in this region, therefore opening of the storage facility will allow to maximum effectively satisfy the clients' demands by offering a new service level.”In Kazakhstan, the company pipe products are located at storage facilities in Astana and Almaty.Interpipe corporation includes Nyzhniodniprovsky Tube Rolling Works and Novomoskovsky Tube and Pipe Works, as well as such enterprises as Interpipe Niko Tube set up on the basis of a part of Nikopol South Pipe Plant in Dnipropetrovsk region.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:35:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Ukraine, Poland to jointly coordinate airports&#039; operation at UEFA-EURO 2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The Poland's delegation of the EURO 2012 organizing committee visited the Boryspil International Airport to discuss the joint preparation of Poland, Ukraine's airports for the football championship, the Ministry of the Transport and Communications of Ukraine' s press service has reported.The Poland's party studied the UEFA-EURO 2012 plans' fulfillment and provided the updated data regarding the development of their major and alternate airports for the European championship.The meeting participants agreed to more actively cooperate in the sphere of mutual experience exchange and discussed the issues for establishing a joint Ukrainian-Polish coordination committee to develop a program on Ukrainian, Polish airports' interaction to hold UEFA-EURO 2012 finals.The Polish delegation was represented by the Warsaw airport top managers and the National Coordinator of Polish Airports UEFA-EURO 2012 preparation. The representatives of the National Agency on Preparation and Holding UEFA-EURO 2012, UEFA-EURO 2012 Organizing Committee and the Boryspil International Airport officials participated on behalf of the Ukrainian party.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:09:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Number of vacancies increase for last month</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. The HeadHunter (hh.ua) company has carried out a labor market research and found that the number of job offers has increased by 20% over June 14-July 18 in Ukraine.The last labor market growth in summer time was observed in 2008. However, growth indices have only made up 8% even before the crisis summer. In the 2009 summer, the number of vacancies due to the financial crisis dropped nearly 3 times against the same period of 2008. The market is gradually reaching pre-depression level, and therefore, needs staff strengthening. For example, in the 2010 spring, companies invited 25% more employees against the respective period of 2009. And restoring for HR-positions was outlined even in the winter 2009-2010, which demonstrated the 'white collar' job needs 10% more compared to the figures of the 'crisis' winter 2008-2009.The highest growth index is seen in the following spheres: sales (4%), administration staff (3%), and accounting/managerial accounting/enterprise finances (1.4%), banks/investments/leasing (1.4%). But the professional sphere indices, i.e. information technologies/internet/telecommunications and marketing/advertising/PR fell against early summer by 4 and 2% respectively.The number of CVs has increased by 28% as of the mid-July 2010.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:20:00 +0300</pubDate>
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      <title>Odesa to host Argentine tango festival</title>
      <description><![CDATA[KYIV, July 27 /UKRINFORM/. Odesa will host the 2nd International Argentine Tango D'amore Festival. The grand concert will open the festival at the Odesa Philharmonic Hall at 19 p.m. on July 29.A unique musical dance program will be staged involving the world famous tango stars such as Soledad Orquesta tango-orchestra, Jose Almar and Stella Misse -Argentine dancers, as well as outstanding dancers from Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.The varied dance program has been composed as a mixture of the international festival astrosphere and a loyalty to the traditions and genuine Argentine tango spirit.Within the festival the tango fans will be able to acquire theoretical knowledge and practical dance skills as well as enjoying professional dancers' performances.]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:23:00 +0300</pubDate>
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