KYIV, Jan 22 - The appointment of a new governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) may strengthen Ukraine's positions in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), investment experts have said.

"Such a decision will put an end to current uncertainty regarding the candidacy of the head of the central bank... The official appointment may also strengthen Ukraine's positions in its intention to restart cooperation with the IMF," Vladimir Osakovsky, an economist for Russia and the CIS at the Merrill Lynch investment bank, said.