Parliament Speaker Arsenii Yatseniuk and World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Shigeo Katzu have discussed the situation at global stock markets, and also exchanged opinions on financial economic state of Ukraine, particularly in view of avoiding corresponding risks for the country.

The Verkhovna Rada press service made this statement.

The WB Vice President expressed his opinion concerning the necessity to hold a special meeting for European and Central Asian countries in near future, taking into consideration the crisis processes in world economics.

Speaking about Ukraine, Katzu turned attention at the need to work out a long-term policy with the purpose of preventing inflation growth and current balance deficit, optimizing state budget expenses, and improving state investment policy.

Also the parties discussed the question of the necessity to pass a number of important legislative acts that, in their opinion, would regulate relations in the financial, economic, social, and land areas.

In particular, WB regional director for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova Paul Birmingham spoke in favour of gearing up modernization of the Ukrainian legislation on the banking sphere.

As Ukrainian News has reported, on March 24 the Economics Ministry and the World Bank discussed the possibility of working out a joint program of cooperation in 2008-2009.

March 17-21 the First Stock Trading System stock exchange (PFTS) share index fell by 7.58% to 1,004.37 from 1,086.75 points because of global stock markets disruption.

Late in January the Forex Club Group (Kyiv) forecast that the crisis on international stock markets would produce significant influence on Ukraine.

Late in 2007 the WB board of directors affirmed partnership strategy with Ukraine for 2008-2011.