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"Cooperation with Poland should be further developed"
Interview of the Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych to the Polish newspaper "Rzeczpospolita"
06.09.2006
The Polish power stated that it will cooperate with any democratic government in Ukraine. However, obviously you remember that two years ago the Poles, including many influential politicians, supported the "orange revolution" against you. Do you feel personal rancor? Can it harm the Ukrainian-Polish relations?
Viktor Yanukovych: Events of 2004 should be viewed from two sides. On the one hand, these events were unpleasant for me personally and for my party. On the other hand, after 2004 we gained experience of working in the opposition. What happened then was in some measure unavoidable. The Ukrainians expected changes. We, the politicians, realized that since restoration of Ukraine's independence, one of the main problems was absence of people's trust in power. The power was not efficient. The entire State government system worked ineffectually. I also realized that the country was ripe for changes and political reform. 2004 was a turning point, when the constitutional reform began.
The participants of these changes faced each other from the opposite banks of the Dniper river, so to say: the "orange" were on one bank, and the "blue and white" on another. However, 2006 elections demonstrated that the country changed. There is free media and other features of democracy.
Now a broad coalition is being formed, involving parties from both sides of the barricade, so to speak. We can say that the Ukrainian people won, and it is politicians' task to fill up the existing trenches of distrust in society.
What specific projects does your government plan to implement with Poland?
Viktor Yanukovych: We view Poland as our closest and biggest partner to the West. It was the first country that began lobbying Ukraine's interests in Europe. We want to further develop our cooperation with Poland.
As far as specific projects are concerned, one of them is construction of the pipeline "Odesa-Brody-Plotsk". Ukraine has done a lot in this area. We have constructed over 600 kilometers of the pipeline, and an oil terminal near Odesa. Now the pipeline has to be extended to Plotsk and further, for supplying oil to the European oil refineries. This oil pipeline is an important element of diversifying energy supplies to Europe.
Trade between the two countries is on the increase. This year Ukraine's export to Poland reached one billion dollars. Export of the Polish goods to Ukraine stands at $1.5 billion. The history of the Ukrainian-Polish relations consolidated our conviction that the potential is great.
Foreign investors are satisfied with their work in Ukraine, although admittedly it has been an uneven process. I mean, for example, the Ukrainian power's elimination of the special economic areas, which harmed the investors economically. We believe that it was a mistake, and we want to correct this mistake. I have apologized to investors, and I am prepared to apologize once again. We are prepared to redress the past injuries and to talk about compensation.
Despite numerous political declarations both by Poland and Ukraine, why has the oil pipeline "Odesa-Brody" not yet been extended to Plotsk, as it is not yet transiting oil to West Europe, and instead pumping oil in the reverse direction from Brody?
Viktor Yanukovych: I would not like to blame anyone of our partners. However, the oil pipeline cannot remain empty. Ukraine gets some benefits from the "Odesa-Brody" pipeline pumping oil in the so called "reverse regime".
It will continue until the Polish part of the pipeline is constructed, and a decision is made on what oil will fill this pipeline. We should keep in mind that the "Odesa-Brody" pipeline was built for diversifying oil supplies. However, we lost a lot of time, and this error should be corrected.
Will Ukraine's entry to NATO benefit your country? Will your government encourage the Ukrainians to vote "yes" during a referendum on this issue? How will you vote yourself?
Viktor Yanukovych: Ukraine's strategy with regard to NATO has already been adopted (Editor's note: as the National Unity Pact declared that Ukraine may join NATO, provided popular approval at the referendum). As the Prime Minister, I will support this strategy.
At the same time, as a politician, I will closely follow this process, and I will abide by the related decisions of my party. This matter requires extensive work. The public should be appropriately informed. Also, joint projects with NATO should be implemented, so that people see that Ukraine's cooperation with the Alliance benefits Ukraine.
Ukraine faces difficult talks with Russia concerning gas prices. What can you offer Russia? Will a joint consortium be created for running the gas transit system?
Viktor Yanukovych: The handover of the gas transit system to Russia is out of question. We can only talk about reconstruction of the system in order to increase the volume of the gas transit to Europe.
Ukraine is very interested in increasing gas transit across its territory. However, it requires investments. If we want to develop the pipeline system, probably it may require creation of a consortium not only with Russia, but also with the European partners. Our door is open for everybody.
As for the gas prices, Ukraine is not an exception from the rule. The mechanism of price setting should be transparent and clear. I discussed it with Mikhail Fradkov. Certainly, during inter-State talks, we will look for the ways to lower gas prices. Ukraine is also interested in developing cooperation with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia for getting access to the oil and gas deposits.
Is your political group, the Party of Regions, a pro-Russian force?
Viktor Yanukovych: The Party of Regions exists since 1997. The first party program, which was adopted then, set the goal of integrating with the European Union institutions. This point of the party program remains topical. The Party of Regions has over one million members. We are a pro-Ukrainian party, defending Ukraine's national interests.
Who will be the next Ukrainian President?
Viktor Yanukovych: I am convinced that it will be a very good President, elected by the people.
Will the Russian language get the status of the official language?
Viktor Yanukovych: It is up to the people to decide. This process requires time.
"Rzeczpospolita", September 6, 2006 | |
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