All heads of regional customs offices, of which there are currently fifty in Ukraine, yesterday wrote applications for transfer to the positions of first deputies.

This was reported by the head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, Volodymyr SKOMAROVSKYI. At the same time, he emphasized that even those customs office heads who were on leave wrote the applications. As is known, yesterday a board meeting of the State Customs Service was held with the participation of President of Ukraine Viktor YUSHCHENKO. At the board meeting, the President expressed dissatisfaction with the high level of corruption in customs bodies and demanded personnel changes from the leadership of the State Customs Service. According to V. SKOMAROVSKYI, despite a significant increase in tax and fee remittances to the State Budget, the main problem of Ukraine's customs bodies today is bribery. V. SKOMAROVSKYI believes that the new heads of customs offices should "have economic skills, possess high organizational abilities and have an appropriate character."