Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Party of Regions Faction Leader Victor Yanukovych, a presidential candidate, believes the Ukrainian economy can recover after the crisis in 2010.

Ukrainian News learned this from a statement by the press service of Yanukovych.

The leader of the Party of Regions said this during the 11th congress of the United Russia Party in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Yanukovych said Ukraine possesses all capacities in place to recover after the economic crisis as soon as in 2010. He voiced regret at Ukraine's having lost at least five years of dynamical development because of the so-called "orange period" in the Ukrainian history.

Commenting on the question of energy carriers and the shift to the world market price of natural gas for Ukraine. Yanukovych said Ukraine will have difficulties in staying competitive in the market, since the adaptation period has been cut until 2010.

"This does not suit us absolutely," said the leader of the Party of Regions.

In response to a question from journalists about the possibility of postponement of the presidential elections in Ukraine for the flu epidemic in the country, Victor Yanukovych said this is not going to happen.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Central Election Commission on October 28 registered Party of Regions Faction Leader Viktor Yanukovych as a presidential candidate.

The presidential election campaign officially started on October 19.

The Verkhovna Rada has set the first tour of the presidential elections for January 17, 2010.