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The opening address by the Head of the Opposition government, Leader of the Party of Regions faction in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.F.Yanukovych at the Opposition government meeting
23.10.2008, 17:09
Dear colleagues!
Today we should consider the very important issue: crisis in the economy and ways out of it. Unfortunately, the situation, which we warned this power against, has happened. Practically all decisions approved by the Opposition government have included warnings regarding the situation in which the country finds itself today.
All of you remember well that we alerted the government 8 months ago that the state of affairs in the world metal market will inevitably hit our metallurgical works and all enterprises which are related to the metallurgical industry.
We forewarned that hryvnia revaluation would deliver a blow to all our exporters: they will lose billions of hryvnias, and it will definitely have an influence on worsening of the situation at these enterprises.
We have seen that a rise in rates for railway transportations, for electrical power, gas price increase since 2008 negatively affected a prime cost in the metallurgical industry.
As a result, the domestic metallurgical industry has become uncompetitive in the global markets. And already today the large enterprises are coming to a stop. So last night Illich factory in Mariupol halted. It is one of the most high-capacity works in Ukraine. This enterprise, together with different contract organizations, employs about 60 thousand workers.
Today these people actually obtain reduced wages. That is, along with the diminished level of the economy, industrial production, Ukraine will face the decreased receipt of taxes into the budget in the nearest future. And it means that the social crisis will affect not only industrial enterprises but also government-financed institutions and the Pension Fund.
The country's prospects can be easily foreseen – a social crisis will erupt, which we have tackled since the first years of independence. And only in 1999 we eventually began to slowly grow production volumes. At that time we managed to repay arrears of wages, pensions, etc. And now all that recurs.
It has happened due to the failed and adventurous decisions of the current government. As a result of the ill-concerted policy between the government and the President of Ukraine, some state decisions were delayed or derailed. Take for example, the country's preparation for winter this year. We know that presently a big problem with heating in many Ukrainian cities has evolved.
Why did all this happen? At the end of last year, when the budget was approved, it did not envisage subventions and subsidies for the housing and utilities sector. We warned then that a rise in price, rates at consumers' cost is a vicious option. We warned as well that soaring prices for all consumer goods would eat away "Yulia's" thousand and depreciate the people's income.
If we look at this crisis, analyze it from the beginning of the year (and we are doing it now), it did not fall down on Ukraine from nowhere. This crisis began as soon as the orange team came in power again. It wrecked the stability in Ukraine in 2005, and then once more in 2007, having arranged the pre-term elections.
And nobody knows how long will it last, how long will they mock the Ukrainian people. But I am sure that the Ukrainian people are able to put points above "³". It can be done only at the elections. If the government will further continue this show and cling to power at any cost – the situation will exacerbate.
I was asked today what we will do "if Verkhovna Rada is blockaded, if the pre-term elections do not take place..." We are opposition, we apprehend and examine the issues, which, in our opinion, are expedient or extremely important for the country nowadays. If the power does not consider it, it means that it does not pay regard to a major part of Ukrainians. It ignores the viewpoint of many people.
In fact, today we represent that part of the society which is dissatisfied with the authorities' actions, the actions of the government, president and Verkhovna Rada. And when we say it, we speak on behalf of the people, and the power should consider this voice. And pursuing the policy independent from the Ukrainian people means that this power is criminal, that it in its policy does not take into account the Ukrainian people's interests. Today we should propose a way out of this very difficult situation occurred in Ukraine. We have not reached the peak of the crisis yet, which is actually organized by the current authorities. Who of them is more guilty and who is less – let them sort it out among themselves, but the final estimation will be given to them by all Ukrainians.
Until the power remains irresponsible, the country will only suffer. And definitely for the people this crisis is another test and a very heavy blow. Especially against the unprotected layers of the population.
We should estimate the situation existent in the economy. And along with the estimation we should make suggestions regarding the ways of leading the country out of the crisis. At least now we might be heard by them.
We should come in parliament and be the first to propose at least a small package of what should be done already today in order to mitigate the consequences of the economic crisis. And what does the Tymoshenko government propose today? To head an anti-crisis coalition on overcoming the crisis, which they fostered in Ukraine... And then they propose to be charged with surmounting this crisis.
If they had conscience, they would not offer it. First and foremost, they should admit what they have done to the country. And only after that it is possible to sit down with them to a bargaining table and agree on some points.
But another way, in my opinion, is the most correct: immediately release the government from its responsibilities and appoint an anti-crisis government. And it should be done in parliament. And then proceed to elections. After the elections, when people will assess the politicians and all political forces, power will be assumed by the political force able to overcome the crisis. There is no other way.
If they further blockade parliament, then everything taking place in the country now, all this negative burden more heavily rests upon the authorities: upon the prime minister, upon the president, upon the speaker of Verkhovna Rada.
I had a talk with the Speaker of Verkhovna Rada. I told him that we are prepared to submit a package of primary anti-crisis actions to parliament. If we vote and adopt it, all together we are ready to bear the responsibility for implementation of this package.
Firstly, it stipulates to set up a stabilization fund immediately. Because it is necessary to take metallurgical and building industries, housing and utilities and, certainly, agricultural sectors out of the crisis. This year the latter due to a fall in prices has been actually bankrupted. The prices were reduced for everything and, having allowed to export this year's harvest, grain traders rob the country and villagers. Therefore, the stabilization fund is urgently needed.
Secondly, it is necessary to protect depositors and allow them to withdraw from their accounts no less than 150 thousand hryvnias. What has been done today (and it was allowed to withdraw only 50 thousand hryvnias), does not protect the people, but only aggravates the situation. Let us recollect how they initially reduced the exchange rate of dollar, and then advanced it, robbing the people again. And now they as well "froze" savings. We will assume a persistent position and suggest considering all our proposals. | |
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