Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that the creation of the Advisory International Council of Reforms, and the appointment of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili as its head, is needed to obtain the experience of supporters of Ukraine and to introduce reforms.
“For a long time, we’ve been thinking how to use the knowledge, experience and unique know-how of Mikheil Saakashvili in the best way. In Georgia, he managed to implement reforms virtually in all spheres of economic, political and social life. The path we chose last year with the Revolution of Dignity has been already completed and verified by our neighbors. They are ready to share their experience with us. Until recently, Mikheil was, in fact, a freelance consultant of Ukraine on reforms. And now, finally, he gets official status,” the president’s press service quoted Poroshenko as saying on Feb. 13.
“Mikheil will become a representative of Ukraine abroad and, simultaneously, a representative of the international community in Ukraine,” Poroshenko said.
Poroshenko expressed his confidence that Saakashvili would establish bilateral communication between Ukraine and the rest of the world on reform, as Saakashvili would bring the best foreign experience and would decently represent the country abroad.
In turn, Saakashvili expressed his sincere gratitude for the president’s trust, and noted that the entire continent was looking at Ukraine, and that a lot of things in the world would be influenced by Ukraine’s reforms.
“We will not win if we do not build a new Ukraine today and do not implement new reforms. It is a race against time. If new Ukraine accomplishes [its goals], Georgia will also be free,” Saakashvili said.
The Advisory International Council of Reforms will cooperate closely with the National Council of Reforms, and its head will become a member of the National Council.
