REUTERS
A new mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ukraine's key creditor, will be working in Ukraine November 12-21, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Valeriya Gontareva told reporters.
"The mission is arriving on November 12. The part that is related to the NBU was agreed during the previous [review] mission. Now, as I see it, they are coming because they have budget parameters, the issue of the anti-corruption prosecutor's office is progressing in the right direction. Therefore, we are optimistic about the mission's arrival," Gontareva said.
When asked about the prospects for further IMF funding for Ukraine in view of the outstanding eurobond obligations to the Russian Federation, the NBU governor said she does not expect this issue to affect the relationship with the IMF.
Read alsoNew IMF mission arriving in Kyiv on Thursday"The IMF has already stated it will consider the possibility of further financing, because it is not Ukraine that refuses from restructuring. And Ukraine has been offering Russia the same conditions as it to the other creditors," Gontareva said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the IMF Resident Representative for Ukraine Jerome Vacher announced that the mission would continue policy discussions with the Ukrainian authorities in the context of the second review of the Fund-supported economic reform program.
The arrival of the IMF mission was earlier announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. He also said that the Ukrainian government was ready to discuss tax reform, budget and other issues with IMF experts.
As reported earlier, the IMF on March 11 approved a four-year Extended Fund Facility worth $17.5 billion for Ukraine. The first tranche worth $5 billion under this program arrived in Ukraine on March 13. The second tranche worth $1.7 billion was transferred to Ukraine on August 4.
Read alsoWill Ukraine stumble over third IMF trancheThe previous IMF mission completed its work in Ukraine on October 2 as part of the second review of the program. Yet, no decision was taken on further cooperation with the country. A new mission was originally expected to arrive in Ukraine after the local election, which was scheduled for October 25. The second round of the local elections in certain Ukrainian cities and towns is planned to be held on November 15.