Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with representatives of public organizations and Maidan activists on Sunday to discuss the situation in Donbas, as well as the current political situation and efforts to counter corruption.
The main task to be fulfilled with the Maidan is to win a victory in
the war in eastern Ukraine and to fight corruption, Poroshenko said,
according to the presidential press service.
Poroshenko said that pain fills his heart when he hears reports about
each soldier killed in eastern Ukraine. He also said that during a
visit to the zone of the law enforcement operation he was deeply
impressed by the Ukrainian military’s combat spirit. “This combat spirit
was born and gained strength on the Maidan. Ukraine has never been so
strongly united before. I am sure, the war has united us,” the Ukrainian
president said.
“We must trust each other and have the confidence that we will not
betray each other, that we will support each other, exchange views and
know that there are values and ideals tested on the Maidan, which unite
us today,” Poroshenko said.
Poroshenko introduced the newly appointed prosecutor general, Vitaliy
Yarema, to the audience, saying that his main task for now is to
complete the probe into the shooting of civilians on Independence Square
in Kyiv in February.
“Never again must the Ukrainian authorities shoot at the Ukrainian people,” he said.
“Nothing will stop us,” he continued. “We have defeated Yanukovych.
We will defeat the bandits. We will build a new state for whose sake
people gathered on the Maidan,” the Ukrainian president said.
Archpriest Stefan, member of the Maidan Religious Council, read out
the Maidan communities’ letter to Poroshenko, voicing support for the
moves he has made.
“Concerning the most essential military-related issues, you should
put the country’s law enforcement block under your full personal control
and replace it entirely. The Ukrainian border in the east and with
Transdniestria should be closed. The Ukrainian armed forces must be
strengthened and their effective coordination and controllability must
be restored. Regarding the political spheres, early parliamentary
elections must be called immediately in compliance with the new
electoral legislation, with open party tickets,” the letter says.
Poroshenko pledged to “strengthen the law enforcement block,” in the near future.
He said in comments on a Maidan activist’s claims that
“representative democracy is going through a crisis,” that parliamentary
elections are to be held in the autumn and that a new law on political
parties with clear and transparent financing mechanisms, should be
passed.
Coordinator of the Recovery Reforms Package public organization Hanna
Hopko proposed instituting a post within the presidential
administration for maintaining contacts with the public. Poroshenko
offered Hopko to take up this post.
In conclusion, the activists presented Poroshenko with the Presidential Banner removed from the Ukrainian House in the winter.
