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Yanukovych proposes to declare 2010 the Year of fighting poverty Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has proposed to join in a European initiative and declare 2010 the Year of fighting poverty.

The president said this at a meeting with representatives of the national trade unions and professional associations in Kyiv on Friday, the president's press service reported.

The head of the state said that currently it is important to work out all directions of Ukraine's development, and first and foremost raise social standards, pensions, and payments to disabled persons and those on low incomes.

Yanukovych said that among the main tasks of his social policy is raising wages.

"This is a task for everyone. The state must not save on citizens or resolve its own problems using its citizens," he said.

Yanukovych sad it is also important to resolve the problem of unofficial payment of salaries "in envelopes."

"The salary must be paid legally. On the basis of this principle the process of raising pensions will begin," he said.