IMF MISSION HEAD SAYS UKRAINE'S SITUATION 'CRITICAL.' Mohammed Shadman-Valavi, head of the IMF mission that arrived in Kyiv last week, has said Ukraine is in a "critical situation" and has no other option but to take "difficult and unpopular" measures to stop its economic decline, AP reported on 19 January. Shadman-Valavi said the IMF will not resume disbursing a $2.2 billion loan to Ukraine until the government proves to the fund that Ukraine's 1999 budget revenue targets are realistic and that the country has reliable sources for financing a projected deficit of 1 percent of GDP. The IMF mission is expected to announce its conclusions next week. JM

KUCHMA AUTHORIZES SALE OF LAND PLOTS UNDER PRIVATIZED PROPERTY. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree authorizing the sale of land for non-agricultural purposes, particularly plots on which privatized enterprises and property are located, Interfax reported on 19 January. Pavel Haydutskyy, deputy head of the presidential administration, said the decree is aimed at boosting foreign investments, ensuring improved protection of private property, and replenishing local budgets. It is estimated that the 500,000 hectares of plots to be privatized are worth some 40 billion hryvni ($12 billion). So far, about 50,000 enterprises have been privatized in Ukraine, but the plots on which they are located remain in the hands of the state. JM

IMF MISSION HEAD SAYS UKRAINE'S SITUATION 'CRITICAL.' Mohammed Shadman-Valavi, head of the IMF mission that arrived in Kyiv last week, has said Ukraine is in a "critical situation" and has no other option but to take "difficult and unpopular" measures to stop its economic decline, AP reported on 19 January. Shadman-Valavi said the IMF will not resume disbursing a $2.2 billion loan to Ukraine until the government proves to the fund that Ukraine's 1999 budget revenue targets are realistic and that the country has reliable sources for financing a projected deficit of 1 percent of GDP. The IMF mission is expected to announce its conclusions next week. JM

KUCHMA AUTHORIZES SALE OF LAND PLOTS UNDER PRIVATIZED PROPERTY. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree authorizing the sale of land for non-agricultural purposes, particularly plots on which privatized enterprises and property are located, Interfax reported on 19 January. Pavel Haydutskyy, deputy head of the presidential administration, said the decree is aimed at boosting foreign investments, ensuring improved protection of private property, and replenishing local budgets. It is estimated that the 500,000 hectares of plots to be privatized are worth some 40 billion hryvni ($12 billion). So far, about 50,000 enterprises have been privatized in Ukraine, but the plots on which they are located remain in the hands of the state. JM

IMF MISSION HEAD SAYS UKRAINE'S SITUATION 'CRITICAL.' Mohammed Shadman-Valavi, head of the IMF mission that arrived in Kyiv last week, has said Ukraine is in a "critical situation" and has no other option but to take "difficult and unpopular" measures to stop its economic decline, AP reported on 19 January. Shadman-Valavi said the IMF will not resume disbursing a $2.2 billion loan to Ukraine until the government proves to the fund that Ukraine's 1999 budget revenue targets are realistic and that the country has reliable sources for financing a projected deficit of 1 percent of GDP. The IMF mission is expected to announce its conclusions next week. JM

KUCHMA AUTHORIZES SALE OF LAND PLOTS UNDER PRIVATIZED PROPERTY. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree authorizing the sale of land for non-agricultural purposes, particularly plots on which privatized enterprises and property are located, Interfax reported on 19 January. Pavel Haydutskyy, deputy head of the presidential administration, said the decree is aimed at boosting foreign investments, ensuring improved protection of private property, and replenishing local budgets. It is estimated that the 500,000 hectares of plots to be privatized are worth some 40 billion hryvni ($12 billion). So far, about 50,000 enterprises have been privatized in Ukraine, but the plots on which they are located remain in the hands of the state. JM