KIEV, Ukraine, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Ukraine’s political instability is hurting the way state-run Naftohaz Ukrayiny functions, the company’s chairman said Tuesday.
"We have difficulties in getting loans even for long-term projects,” Yevhen Bakulin said. “Naftohaz Ukrayiny has difficulties in getting loans."
The comments were reported by the UNIAN news agency.
Ukraine votes Sept. 30 to pick a new Parliament to decide between factions led by President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. The country is divided between one faction that leans toward Moscow -- led by Yanukovych -- and another that is allied with the West, led by the president. That division has led to political instability.
European Union leaders called on Ukraine last week to get its political house in order so it can move forward with needed government and economic reforms.
In meetings with Ukrainian officials in Kiev last week, the EU said the upcoming parliamentary election in Ukraine would be a key step toward getting the country's reform program back on track and strengthening its ties with the rest of Europe.
