Ukraine's state budget for 2013 to be adopted by parliament this month, says premier

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will submit the draft state budget for 2013 to the Verkhovna Rada on November 20, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"The government is working on the second draft of the budget, which will be presented to the parliament in two weeks, on November 20, and we hope that by the end of November the parliament will approve the budget, which will then be signed by the president," he told reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Azarov said he expected lawmakers to carefully consider the draft budget and approve it as soon as possible.

The premier said he hoped that regions and districts would approve their budgets in December.

Azarov said that the main macroeconomic indicators of the state budget were currently being worked out. He said the work on the 2013 state budget was being done in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund.

"The IMF is kept informed of everything that is being done with the budget. There is an understanding, but there are certain differences too. [But] I'm sure we will reach a consensus," the premier said.

When asked what price of natural gas will be foreseen in the draft state budget for 2013, Azarov said it would be the current market price.