June 22 2005, 18:44 APK-Inform

Government to check Khlib Ukrainy following disclosure of abuses

Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine intends to check activities of State Joint Stock Company Khlib Ukrainy during the 2004/05 grain year. The checks have been necessitated by disclosed abuses of its officials, said Ukraine's Prime Minister Yuliya Timoshenko to a press-conference in the Cabinet on June 22.

According to Timoshenko, there were cases when Khlib Ukrainy bought more than 2 times overpriced grains from non-producers. Besides, the purchased grain was of an extremely poor quality.

General Prosecutor's Office earlier revealed numerous abuses, made by Khlib Ukrainy's officials, such as thefts of grains and oilseeds being stored in the company's facilities.

Khlib Ukrainy is the major state-controlled operator of Ukrainian grain market, embracing a network of 125 affiliates throughout Ukraine, of which there are 72 grain storage and processing enterprises (actual storage capacity is about 3 million tonnes), and two coastal elevators in Ukrainian seaports.