According to Gregory Jedrzejczak, World Bank representative in Ukraine, the bank does not intend to cancel the previously planned allocation of a new $250 million loan to Ukraine on the grounds that the US government, suspecting Ukraine of selling arms to Iraq, had stopped previously planned financial aid to Ukraine worth $54m.

The IMF also expressed its wish to continue co-operation with Ukraine; it is going to co-operate with Ukraine under a programme that envisions allocations only in emergency situations and on Ukraine's request. The programme is scheduled for 3-5 years and does not envisage regular credit tranche allocations to Ukraine. According to Ukrainian Economics Minister Alexander Shlapak, the programme is worth about $600-800 million.

(NewsBase 30.ix.02)