Authorities to face crisis of society's expectations and trust in 2013, says Yanukovych

A crisis of expectations and trust in the society will be the main challenge for the Ukrainian authorities in 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"We should realize that a crisis of expectations and trust in our society will be the main challenge for the authorities in 2013," the head of state said at a meeting of the Council of Regions in Kyiv on Tuesday.

In 2013 Ukraine is to chair the OSCE, sign the Association Agreement with the European Union, and develop new relations with the Customs Union, the president recalled.

Ukraine also hopes to intensify its cooperation with international financial institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as expects to see positive progress in the negotiations with the World Trade Organization on its proposals in the sphere of international trade taking into account its national interests.

"Certainly the citizens have not felt drastic positive changes yet. The situation in medicine, education and with unemployment is difficult, the level of corruption is high, there are difficulties with organization and doing business, especially for small businesses, and this influences the mood and demands of people," he said.

Yanukovych recalled that Ukraine is planning to repay $9 billion of its foreign debt in 2013, which is the highest sum over the recent years.

"I am stressing this not accidentally. This year will be a year of new challenges," the president said.