I would not like to repeat all the lies which I could hear today during the show, especially those concerning the financing of the Presidential Administration. I’d like to point out that the amount provided for this body’s activity did not change, though much more work is to be done, according to the decision of the Constitutional Court.
There is no needed to search for those being guilty. It is, however, necessary to mark that, unfortunately, opposition both did not improve its work and did not give an alternative to us.
I am inspired by the fact that some key reforms in Ukraine have already begun. We do have the freedom of speech, which can be easily seen while watching passionate discussions on television shows on different channels. The citizens of Ukraine can watch public speeches of Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, listen to their individual, sincere opinions. I’m very happy with the fact that Savik Shuster’s show will go on.
Viktor Yanukovych sincerely wants Ukraine’s governmental activity to improve the life of every family,"
– Yuriy Miroshnychenko is a People’s Deputy of Ukraine from the Party of Regions, the President’s representative in the Parliament
I am proud of our President, his today’s speech, listening to which we could see his human features and true motivations. Viktor Yanukovych sincerely wants Ukraine’s governmental activity to improve the life of every family. I’d like to stress this to the representatives of the opposition that Viktor Yanukovych has never wished anything ill to anybody regardless of how people think of him. He is not used to paying off scores.
The President is not responsible either for the court’s or law enforcing bodies’ decisions. It means independent institutes are in action in Ukraine. Viktor Yanukovych was one of the first who said deputies’ scuffles in Verkhovna Rada which took place on Dec. 16 were unacceptable. I’d also like to stress Yanukovych did not either judged or punished somebody, its’ the work some law enforcement authorities are responsible for. I am glad that in our country all good intentions which have been declared for 19 years long are being finally implemented today. They are: Administrative reform which was the very first step on the way of changing the structure of power, a tax reform which became one of the hardest from the point of view of the involvement of the civil society institutes.
The President sided with ordinary people who were opposing to the power and put a veto on the tax code. Moreover, Yanukovych saved the system of the simplified taxation for small business. I’d like to emphasize on the fact that all these reforms have been taking place in the forms of public discussions.
I am very glad that governmental representatives carried out a public study of pension reform and relevant explanatory work. Transition from solidarity pensions system to accumulative pension system and some other needed measure has been already drawn up. Everything is not so bad as some are trying to make it.
Political culture level has increased. Due to the personal position of the President of Ukraine, a working group which includes representatives of opposition, coalition and journalists was created. Viktor Yanukovych praised the adoption of the law on public information as a part of administrative reform. The President considers this law to be an important factor in strengthening the democratic basis of Ukrainian society, making officials transparent and open to the society. When Viktor Yanukovych took over Ukraine’s leadership, he created anticorruption committee, introduced draft law on the principles for preventing and combating corruption in Ukraine. Yanukovych is ready to welcome any bills from the deputies regardless of whether they are from opposition or the ruling party.
It is true that not all of Yanukovych’s initiatives could be implemented today, including those in public sphere. However, right from the beginning of 2011, low income families are to get some pecuniary aid when giving a birth to a child. Unfortunately, pensioners are to receive not enough help from the state, though each of them pays some Hr 10, 000 for the state debts. These are challenges we are ready to cope with. It is the truth the President must consider while making right decisions.
It is the very first year of Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency. Maybe, the opposition wanted all his five-year program which the nation voted for to be completed in a year. It is impossible. In all we do we are lead no by populism but the good for all Ukrainians. It is the main aim of the President of Ukraine.
Finally, on the New Year ’s Eve, Victor Yanukovych in the air of Ukrainian television channels emphasized on the most important today’s issues as well as his plans for the future. Yanukovych gave his word that his pre-election program is his main aims to follow and the main guide each year and each single day of his presidency. Therefore, we can expect the society to unite around a person who is ready to reform the country for its better. From the opposition we do expect some suggestions, some certain steps to make the nation’s leader aims come true.
Serhij Sobolev (BYuT) : In my opinion, the main thing which people wanted to hear from the President is the report on his activity. Unfortunately, the report was not made public, but only his wishes. I understand that making people’s life better in Ukraine today is impossible, but you could do at least something which is possible to make it better tomorrow. Unfortunately, we didn’t hear that from the President either.
Thank you for your comment, but I am very sorry you did not listen to the President properly. He also did apply to you as to the opposition. I am very sorry that you think that the President has to decide how courts or law enforcement authorities should work. I am sorry that you think that the President has the right to interfere into the activity of the only legislative body of Ukraine which is the Parliament. I’m sorry that you don’t want to have democracy in Ukraine which would guarantee nation’s authorities’ sovereignty, according to the Constitution.
The President is not responsible either for the court’s or law enforcing bodies’ decisions,"
– Yuriy Miroshnychenko is a People’s Deputy of Ukraine from the Party of Regions, the President’s representative in the Parliament
Serhij Sobolev (BYuT) : Mr. Miroshnychenko, could you please explain who did give an order to rush the Parliament and beat the deputies?
I can assure you that the President of Ukraine not only didn’t give such orders, but also publicly condemned the fight. I’m also sorry Mr. Sobolev that none of the oppositional leaders condemned the blocking of Verkhovna Rada which should work daily passing the laws in the national interest of Ukraine. It is really sorry that we as People’s deputies put artificial obstacles in the activity of Verkhovna Rada as the constitutional body instead of sitting down at the negotiating table together and solving problems. In this case the President acts intelligently. He allows us to settle our arguments from the inside.
You are first one to declare that criminals, delinquents must be punished, but when it comes to your colleagues form the opposition it is different. You also don’t mention the fact that hundreds, thousands of officials which came to power at Yanukovych’s presidency are today in charge of their illegal actions, some are sent to jails, thought it is not made the subject of political PR. I am sorry your truth is rather selective, you want to justify yourselves, dragging your rivals’ good names through the mud.
The President would like all of us to act as the one team regardless of the fact who makes decisions and who controls them, because the opposition is an important part of the public power. Viktor Yanukovych as the guarantor of Ukraine’s Constitution, human rights and freedoms is trying to protect them, which includes condemning fights but refraining from assigning the blame
Bohdan Sokolovskiy (Ukraine’s presidential international energy security commissioner in 2008-2010):
I respect you a lot and I do believe you talk sincerely, but I’d like to object at least your two key points. Firstly, you have just said that the quality of opposition changed, which is decreased, but I’m sure that the quality of governmental body is down. Probably, it’s not the quality of the President, maybe, the President does or wants to do everything you’ve just mentioned, but his team makes mistakes and even commits crimes which require national conviction. For example, today’s situation with the chancellor of the Donetsk University and his wife may be called only as the action of aggressive power. When Yushchenko was in power, it would never have happened. Today we talk much about pursuits. I’m not Yulia Tymoshenko’s supporter, but I can see the signs of her political pursuit. If you make an audit of governmental charges, start making it from 2003 and you will see everything you need to see. People will make conclusions themselves. Moreover, your law enforcement authorities didn’t become any better: If Lutsenko’s road police were having a rest, your policemen basically rob ordinary people. It’s true and people do notice it. Thus, Mr. Miroshnychenko, it better for the President to report true information on what is going on inside of the country, and then it will become possible to call on the opposition to start negotiations instead of beating it with chairs. It makes no good to you.
Bad quality of power, total corruption, using one’s own position as the means of earning money and everything you’ve just mentioned are the illnesses we have been trying to fight against for 19 years. That is why the President started carrying out administrative reforms first.
The members of Committee on economic reforms who were working on the possible ways to renew the country with the help of economic reforms concluded that it was impossible to make any changes while the officials were corrupt, business could not develop freely. Therefore, the President accelerated the first part of administrative reform which affected the central bodies’ executive power. The differentiation of the functions of making decision, controlling them and implementation took place.
Viktor Yanukovych often talks about the need of strong civil society institutions. We never will fight corruption without the tools of power control, without providing the public access to information, without the right to punish officials. The inevitability of punishment is a bitter, but the only one necessary treatment. The President was right when he said that only investigation and the court could charge somebody with crimes. Those who today are summoned to the Prosecutor General’s office are not to be found guilty for sure. The violations should be investigated neither by authorities nor Viktor Yanukovych, but the independent international audit which is trusted both by Ukraine and the international community. In this situation the President was absolutely reasonable and intelligent, he has done everything he could according to the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine.
You are absolutely right when you talk about the need of an audit. It should be made starting from 1991. Then, we would be able to find out our previous mistakes which is the main aim of us making the audit. You being an expert are much welcome to express your initiatives. I am sure the President will be encouraging them because he really cares about the future of Ukraine and has neither time no desire to pay off old political scores.
Yurii Miroshnychenko is a People’s Deputy of Ukraine from the Party of Regions, the President’s representative in the Parliament. Read more about Yurii Miroshnychenko.
