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Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian Prime Minister: "Seven pillars supporting the skies of our freedom"
22.11.2006, 09:03
Two years have passed since the well known events in Ukraine, which were later called the orange revolution. It was a period of reappraisal and transformation primarily in the consciousness of all of us, including those who rallied for demonstrations under the orange and blue-and-white flags. Have we used this time to the benefit of the State and society? Despite all mistakes, excesses, and everything that we experienced, I should say – Yes. We should have gone through these years of catharsis, to overcome the old stereotypes, which dominated our life, and to enter the new phase of Ukraine's development.
Undoubtedly, much was lost in economic terms. There were mistakes in the economic policy, which will have to be corrected for the long time to come. However, the society itself was reborn into the new quality. We have all changed. And now it depends mostly on us how and when we cure the injuries of the earlier rift, and how we take advantage of the changes in our consciousness to move forward.
By building the new long-term strategy of development, we proceed mainly from the positive aspects, which can be used for making progress on the path of development. We are building our future on the kind of Pillars of Hercules supporting the skies of our freedom.
As one of these positive aspects or pillars I view the fact that presently all political forces in Ukraine, without exception, support democratic values and promote development of the stable democratic institutes. It is the firmest and most important pillar of the "skies of our freedom". Adherence to the democratic values in particular characterizes political parties, whose parliamentary factions formed the parliamentary majority in the Verkhovna Rada. (However, we are not abandoning hope that the coalition will further broaden and include more constructively-minded parliamentarians. And people support that.)
Another pillar, which props up, figuratively speaking, our efforts to develop the foundations of Ukraine's long-term economic growth, is combination of democracy and political stability. It is a great advantage for our nation and our society that we have political stability, and that we are overcoming, step by step, the painful legacy of the earlier rift that agonizingly divided the Ukrainian people. Today we are succeeding in defusing the points of confrontation between the people. We pursue the policy of development of the regions, and making them closer. We spare no effort in making our people from different regions understand and accept moral values of each other. I would not say that we have already reached such a level of consolidation of our society that we want. But we are working on that. Realization of the important economic reforms will not be successful without abandoning confrontation. Therefore, establishment of political, economic and social stability in society will allow us to realize the idea of the economic breakthrough, which will help elevate Ukraine to the qualitatively new level of economic and societal development.
It is our goal and our strategic prospect, and we are consistently moving in this direction, by deliberate and measured steps.
I understand cautious optimism, so to speak, in the public evaluation of our actions. One third of the Ukrainian citizens totally support our steps. Another one third are yet undecided. One third do not support us. We know the reasons for such public mood. And I am convinced that the number of those who totally support us will be growing, as soon as reforms, that we initiate, will start bearing fruit. We received from the Ukrainian people a five year mandate following the popular vote of confidence.
Speaking further about pillars supporting the skies of our freedom, I would like to name the third pillar – it is combating corruption, which we began in a determined and irreversible manner. (Even during the past few days the Cabinet of Ministers approved a package of decisions that will allow us to lessen corruption, in particular in the budgetary sphere.) We have already achieved some results in implementing reforms in the sphere of the State finances, which are aimed at curbing corruption.
Frankly speaking, the Ukrainian corruption has a strong backbone. It has only become stronger over the past two years. I am particularly worried over corruption affecting common people at every step of their daily life. It is corruption in the healthcare system, education, in the housing sector and public utilities, and other spheres. Also there is some progress in achieving real independence of judiciary. When a court ruling levels corruption charges against an incumbent minister, such a court may be described as independent. And we should continue to build strong, independent judiciary and to conduct consistent policy in this area, to introduce unified legislative norms, which would create equal opportunities for all companies and businessmen working in Ukraine. So that equal rules are established for everybody once and for all, without any exceptions. So that these rules are clear, understandable, and that they curtail the State interference with the market relations. To put it simple, we should get rid of such an approach to entrepreneurs which has been aptly dubbed by the people as a "syndrome of the candid friends".
Can we say today that we have done everything possible for that? Certainly not. Our Government's short time in power has allowed us to make only a few first concrete steps. However, we are moving down this path, and we will not deviate from it.
The fourth pillar of our freedom I would call transparency in management and more openness in the entire business infrastructure in Ukraine due to the reliable legal system, guaranteeing profound market reforms, and protecting shareholders' rights. Our first steps on this way are adoption of the tougher standards in corporate management, and as I said earlier, more transparency in the entire business infrastructure in Ukraine. The so-called backstage fuss in the Ukrainian business sphere is gradually consigned to the past, becoming an archaism, which is abandoned for good by our business circles. And it will be the best guarantee that we will get investors' trust and become attractive for them.
The new jobs will be created, and our compatriots will begin to return home, and instead of seeking economic liberty abroad, they will be building it at home.
The sixth pillar of our liberty will be respect to property and its inviolability. In connection with that, I would like to emphasize that all officials, even the top ones, should be guided only by the State interests in their decision-making. We all see that it is difficult to introduce the related legislation, that often senior officials cannot find common language, that they argue, and lack common vision of the process. However, I would like to express optimism with regard to that. We will definitely reach consensus.
The seventh pillar of our freedom is the freedom of speech. While addressing an international media forum lately, I outlined my vision of development and expansion of the freedom of speech in Ukraine. I explicitly declared my conviction that the media outlets should be freed from the State control. I guaranteed journalists' full access to information, and prevention of any pressure on or dictate to members of the press from the government. And these are not just words. My own experience, while in the opposition, persuaded me that it is very important for society to have access to the information, which is accurate, balanced, reflecting the real state of affairs and position of different political forces and groups on various issues. The freedom of speech is the main pillar ensuring the freedom of the public opinion. And we should place this pillar of freedom on the solid foundation, so that it withstands the gusts of wind of any political changes. The freedom of speech should stop being dependent on the results of any elections in our country. It should become an established and indispensable value of the Ukrainian society.
For many years to come we will keep recollecting the complicated time of the late November 2004, the time, that changed us, without changing, however, despite all, our moral principles, which always lay in the foundation of our life. I would like to see that, while reminiscing about these "orange" or "blue-and-white" days of our history, we feel that our persuasions and sympathies are approaching the common political color, so to say, which is the color of our national flag. I would like to see us being conscious of becoming more united, unified, stronger supporting our statehood, strong, solid and united people of independent Ukraine.
"Day" newspaper, #203, Wednesday, November 22, 2006 | |
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