Budget deficit in 5M09 equals UAH 17 bln by IMF methodology

Acting Finance Minister Igor Umanskiy said that according to International Monetary Fund methodology, Ukraine’s state budget deficit in 5M09 was equal to UAH 17 bln, Interfax reported. The memorandum between the IMF and the government stipulated a deficit of no more than UAH 22.5 bln over the same period, Umanskiy said. The Ministry of Finance has not yet released official numbers on budget execution in 5M09. In 1Q09 the Ministry reported a tiny budget surplus of UAH 0.3 bln.