Timoshenko urges National Bank to stabilize hryvna

"A negative trade balance reduced almost fifteen-fold in January-June," she told a news conference on Monday.

The prime minister noted that over the six months of 2008 the negative trade balance comprised 7 billion U.S. dollars and over the same period of this year only 471 million U.S. dollars.

"There are no causes for national currency fluctuations," she said adding, devaluation of the hryvna is not explained by economic reasons.

She added, "the government systematically fulfils all fifteen anti-crisis programs." "The economy begins to recover," the prime minister said adding that production volumes were on the rise in the country's metallurgy, light industry, car-making and electric power in July as compared to those in June, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.