August 25 2004, 15:41 UNIAN

Authorities of Dnepropetrovsk Region will continue to command grain prices

UNIAN news agency has cited the Head of Dnepropetrovsk Regional Administration Volodymyr Yatsuba as saying that prices for new crop grain in Dneporpetrovsk Oblast will continue to be kept up, as soon as it produces a positive effect upon the profits of local agricultural producers.

The news agency quoted the words of the official literally as follows: "I will not surrender my position as regards the prices for grain and the necessity of its sales through commodity exchanges, despite the fact that benefactors of Ukraine are starting campaigns in mass media concerning my personality".

The agency did not provide explanation which "benefactors" and what kind of "campaigns" Mr. Yatsuba had been spoken about.

Instead, Yatsuba informed the pubic that "exchange prices for feed grain in the region have currently increased up to 500 hryvnias per tonne" (5.31 hryvnias = $1), without specifying though which exactly kind(s) of "feed grain" he had in mind.

The agency concluded its news item by informing the audience that authorities of Dnepropetrovsk Oblast were taking "a principal position" as regards sales of new crop grains, which, in their version, ought to be sold at prices no less than 800 hryvnias per tonne for food grain, 600 hryvnias per tonne for rye and 450 hryvnias per tonne for feed barley.