Premier orders improvements to local budget payment system by February 1

Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov has ordered First Vice Premier Serhiy Arbuzov, Income and Tax Minister Oleksandr Klymenko and Finance Minister Yuriy Kolobov to make improvements to the local budget payment system by February 1, 2013.

"The goal is to prevent errors in the financing of expenses of local communities from the start of the year," the premier said, opening a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Azarov also ordered Arbuzov, jointly with Social Policy Minister Natalia Korolevska to urgently discuss the social funds' budgets and ensure the adoption of substantiated financial documents.

The press service of the first vice premier, who was not present at the cabinet meeting, reported earlier that he schedules daily meetings with heads of the regions to settle urgent economic and social problems.

"This format of cooperation between central and local executive powers, which was proposed by Arbuzov, aims to quickly settle urgent problems. The heads of the regions also supported this form of communication," the press service said, citing Arbuzov.

He said that at meetings with the heads of regional administrations would be attended by ministers who have relation to the issues under discussion. The Finance Ministry, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry, the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry, the Income and Tax Ministry, the Social Policy Ministry, the Infrastructure Ministry and the Regional Development, Construction, Utilities and Housing Economy Ministry will appoint persons responsible for organizing the said meetings.

In addition, final meetings with the participation of Arbuzov and Vice Premier Oleksandr Vilkul will be held.

"Each head of a region will have a chance to meet with top managers of the ministries once a month," the report says.

The first meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2013 with the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea, on January 11 – with the chairman of Vinnytsia regional administration, and on January 12 with the chairman of Volyn regional administration.