Livadia, June 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that Ukraine is aiming to carry out profound reform of local government in order to increase its effectiveness.
"Ukraine has set its sight on a profound reform of local government, is preparing a concept and an action plan to develop and support local government. The main goal is raising its efficiency," he said at a meeting of the Council of Regions in Livadia on Friday.
Yanukovych said that the country still has an outdated Soviet concept for the organization of its local government system.
"Although the constitution guarantees a high status for local communities, this is not currently used. Such opportunities are opening up today," he said.
According to Yanukovych, local communities should themselves decide on the scheme for reforming local government.
"We need a balanced approach to the distribution of powers between the central and regional authorities, [and] need to figure out all the directions and take into account the risks," the president has said.
He drew attention to the fact that the local government reform should make it possible for local residents to participate in decision-making.
"The most important thing is to give the communities real levers of influence on public policy, and, simultaneously, it is unacceptable to further politicize the work of the local authorities, because sometimes we can see local councils superseding state authority, violating the law and provoking people with political statements," he said.
Yanukovych said the Crimean autonomy could become a model and a leader in local government reform.
"Crimea can become a leader in the development of local government, because it has the largest number of conditions for this – there is a parliament, a council of ministers and an extensive network of local governments; moreover, a sufficient economic basis will be created soon," the president said.
