Ukraine's pension reform disputes may affect relations with IMF

KIEV, March 19 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine's Minister of Social Policies
Sergei Tigipko called the parliament's rescheduling of pension law a
sabotage of the country's trend for reforms.
"The power lacks political will to undertake responsibility for
unpopular measures, which is unsuitable populism in best political
traditions of the past years," he said. The necessity to raise pension age is evident for all experts. "Those opposing to it do not have serious arguments."
Delaying the pension reform will prevent fighting poverty in Ukraine, he said.
"This means we shall not have money to pay pensions and wages, we
shall preserve poverty in the country."
Besides, any delays will affect cooperation with international
organisations and will prevent the European integration.
"We do not have more time to discuss the pension reform, now it is
time to act," he said.
On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada /parliament/ once again postponed
discussion of the pension reform, which Ukraine had promised to the
International Monetary Fund early this year. Now the parliament plans to have the discussion in early April. Kiev's another tranche from the IMF depends on this obligation.
In July 2010, the IMF confirmed a credit programme for Ukraine worth
over 15 billion dollars to end of 2012. Ukraine has received 3.4 billion
dollars in two tranches.