Euro-2012 News Online

To make airports ready for Euro-2012 Ukraine lacks time and professional work groups as announced Ivan Vasyunik, vice Prime Minister of Ukraine at briefing on Wednesday.“The cornerstone problem for implementing such projects everywhere and always is time. It’s not about financial matter in Ukraine – only this year the Government assigned almost $ 250 mln for the airports. The problem is in creating work groups of professionals who can endure working schedule” – he said after the meeting of Government’s work group for Euro-2012 preparation in Lvov.I. Vasyunik has also informed he met with UEFA expert from the group checking works in the airports. “They saw the plan presented by Ukraine in Vienna is step by step carried out without any delay. In all the six airports were started works on designing new take off strips and terminals. So we expect in experts’ resolution conclusions will be far more positive” – assured Mr. Vasyunik.Besides as says I. Vasyunik the Government created formula of joint financing for repair works and building municipal roads in Lvov – finance support will be divided approximately equal between State and city budget or attracted credits.

Kiev, August 22 /Xinhua/ - Group of UEFA experts marked essential progress in preparation of Ukraine for Europe Football Championship in 2012, informed on Friday press-office of Ukraine’s National Agency for preparation and holding Euro-2012. Group of UEFA experts paid an inspection visit to Ukraine on August 18-22. During their visit UEFA reps checked preparation process for the Championship in Kiev, Kharkov, Lvov, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Donetsk. “UEFA experts marked significant progress in Ukraine’s preparation showed lately” – is said in the statement.

In particular UEFA experts paid attention to quality changes in Olimpiyskiy NSC reconstruction and beginning of stadium construction in Lvov. Positive mark was given for starting reconstruction of highways and railways in Ukraine.

Head of National Agency for Euro-2012 issues Yevgeniy Chervonenko commented on results of UEFA experts’ visit and said:”Those changes taken place lately in Ukraine’s preparation process impressed European experts. This gives reasons to say that during UEFA Strategic council in Nyons on September, 27 any doubts related to hosting Championship in Ukraine and Poland will be chased away once and for all”.

Ukraine’s Government permitted Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) to involve foreign intelligence services for carrying out antiterrorist actions and providing security during Euro-2012, as informed Valentin Nalivaychenko, head of SSU in his interview to Israel journalist Shimon Briman, according to UNIAN.

According to Mr. Nalivaychenko the resolution was passed by Cabinet of Ministers on SSU initiative.

V. Nalivaychenko said it means that next year SSU has right to involve foreign airlines reps and different intelligence agencies in antiterrorist trainings and actions at equal basis.

State administration of “Ukrzaliznutsa” railway transport plans to buy 7 Pendolino electric trains by 2013 as said in Poltava Viktor Ostapchuk, head of South railway. “Ukrzaliznutsa” charged South railway with holding bids to supply 7 Pendolino electric trains by the end of 2008. According to V. Ostapchuk by the end of the year South railway aims to sign contracts on production and supplying Pendolino trains.

In project the first train will start operating in 2009 then in 2010-2012 two trains a year. “Ukrzaliznutsa” intends attracting credit to buy 7 electric tilting trains like Pendolino for EUR 180 mln.

Using electric tilting trains will increase speed by 30% compared to standard trains, it will reduce journey time from 10-11 to 3-5 hrs and raise traffic safety. New trains will be based in Poltava and carry out their journeys from the capital to Lvov, Simferopol and Donetsk.

State enterprise “Ukrzaliznutsa”, monopolist in railway traffic unites 6 railways of Ukraine.