Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that the development of Crimea is impossible without the development of the whole of Ukraine.
"The development of Crimea directly depends on the development of Ukraine. If there is the development of Ukraine, there will be the development of Crimea. An integral part of our country’s development is the development of our regions," he said in Simferopol on Tuesday, while speaking at a meeting on the strategic development of Crimea.
Yanukovych said that "Crimea is a pearl of not only Ukraine, but also the whole world."
He noted that Crimea had stopped in its development and that this had been caused by problems in the implementation of programs, rather than there not being any programs.
"It was impossible to carry out reforms in Crimea without the participation of the center. Decisions were often not implemented in the regions, because the authorities had no real opportunity to implement them, and there were no funds," Yanukovych said.
The president noted that the situation had worsened amid the economic crisis.
Yanukovych said that draft presidential orders had currently been prepared and had been agreed with the Cabinet of Ministers.
"If we undertake obligations [with respect to Crimea], then we’ll meet them," he said.
He also said that he had discussed problems in Crimea with Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn.
He noted that the Ukrainian parliament must assume certain commitments and adopt possible amendments in Ukrainian legislation linked to Crimea.
