Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that a new regional policy should be developed.
"The new regional policy first of all envisages a new format of relations between the regions and the central government, and new instruments and mechanisms for influencing the regional economy," Yanukovych said at a meeting of the Council of Regions in Kyiv on Tuesday.
The president urged regional leaders to show initiative and be more responsible, and not to wait for "guidelines from above."
"There are such [governors], who are waiting, as they say, for the cock to crow, or for push to come to shove. Dear colleagues, you shouldn’t wait, but correct what needs to be corrected and provide a timely response," Yanukovych said.
The president also said he regretted that the public feels that there have been no changes as a result of the reforms in the country.
