Our Ukraine Political Council Chairman Valentyn Nalyvaichenko thinks that the Ukrainian authorities aim at the restoration of the former Soviet Union in the disguise of the Customs or Eurasian Union.
"Unfortunately, Ukraine-phobic personalities dominate the government. The authorities lied in the elections. The premier and vice-premiers are leading us to the union. They call it the Customs or Eurasian Union instead of the Soviet [Union] but that is KGB and Soviet lies. This policy substitutes Ukrainian statehood and understanding of the vector of its development," Our Ukraine quoted Nalyvaichenko on Thursday.
The problem is that Ukrainian government workers "have the Soviet mentality," he said. "They do not speak foreign languages and have not learned Ukrainian. What is the most important they have not learned the national interests of this country. So, they suggest the Customs Union," he said.
A total of 86.5% of customs duties collected in the Customs Union go to Moscow, 5.5% go to Belarus and 8% go to Kazakhstan, he said. "The former State Planning Committee accumulated all funds in Moscow and divided them between party bureaucrats. We are against the restoration of such unions," Nalyvaichenko said.
The European Union has sent a clear political message to the Ukrainian authorities, and this message shows that Ukraine has taken a wrong track, he said.
"Not only the European Union but also the entire civilized world condemn the trampling upon political freedoms and the persecution of the opposition. This situation contradicts the interests of Ukraine and its European ambitions," he said in comment on consequences of the political persecution of the opposition for the European integration of Ukraine.
The European track of the Ukrainian development must be continued, Nalyvaichenko said. "Ukrainian plants are interested in new markets. We want a free trade zone with the EU for improving the living standards of our people. We do not mind the enlargement of Russian markets either but let Russia lift the restrictions on Ukrainian commodities first," he said.
In order to take a turn to Europe, Ukraine needs a new administration, respect for human rights, the end to persecution of the opposition and the release of politicians, among them ex-Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko and ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, from prison, he said. "It is of paramount importance that the state must serve its citizens," he concluded.
