KIEV, Jan. 11 - President Viktor Yushchenko on Friday urged Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, to improve its finances and to make sure Ukraine’s natural gas transportation network remains in state ownership.

Yushchenko met Oleh Dubyna, the head of Naftogaz, a day after Naftogaz had reported that heavy tax pressure would probably force the company to reduce investments in upgrading the gas network in 2008.