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02.03.2010 09:24
Press office of President Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Yanukovych: I want to change the situation for the better
During his visit to Brussels, the European capital, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych gave an exclusive interview to BBC Ukrainian service the first detailed interview of newly elected President after his accession to the post. Rostislav Khotin, editor of BBC Ukrainian service, held an interview with the President of Ukraine. BBC: Does the fact that you are in Brussels mean that the European integration will be one of head stones of Your presidency? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: Certainly. I will do everything so that the European integration would be not in words but in practice. And herein is the difference between my policy and policy of my predecessors who talked much but in fact did not do anything. The situation is that life of people has worsened and the level of economy has fallen down over last 5 years. And people perceived it as the process of the European integration. In other words, we get negative outcome from this policy. I want to change the situation for the better. BBC: Will there be a resentment that you visit Brussels first, and already then to Moscow? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: You know I have never been a schemer in my life and I do not want to be the one now. My post is first of all high responsibility in the issues of both internal and foreign policy. I want Ukraine become a reliable partner both for the European Union and Russia, as well as for other countries with which we build mutually beneficial relationship. Ukraine will always assert its national interest. And for me it is the main thing. BBC: Will Ukraine attain the associated membership and Agreement on free trade area with the European Union, as well as non-visa regime? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: We have agreed that we will pass this path within one year, and joint decision-making, common implementation of this issue will bring us over to the purpose we set ourselves. Not later than in one year we will get non-visa regime and free trade area with the European Union. BBC: Literally on the day of Your inauguration the European Parliament passed a resolution under which Ukraine as a European state has a right to apply for membership in the European Union. Does it encourage you? How do you feel about it? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: I think Ukraine should pass a long way of reforms, and only thereafter we will see the date when it can occur. In other words, today we have received a signal which gives us a great hope. Now we should work hard to meet this end. BBC: Therefore there should be no hurry with application, with formality? Am I right? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: We should make conscious decisions, and there should be no politicization of this issue. Because people both in the European Union and Ukraine understand well that it is a complicated and long way. BBC: More than 70% of Ukrainians support European integration. Is it a sound mandate for you to pursue the European line? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: People support this motion, but they want to feel it themselves every year, see improvement of their own lives, new jobs, transparent laws. People should feel that their rights are getting more protected year after year. BBC: Today in Brussels you have not met with NATO guidance. Is it emblematic or just a formality? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: First of all this program was prepared together with the European Union. It was limited in time and rich of content. I will put it this way: if I lack time to do something this time, I will do it next time. BBC: As for modernization of the gas-transport system of Ukraine. The European Union wants to do it, but on the other hand, you told about a consortium. How this issue can be settled: gas consortium versus modernization by European financial means? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: The primary goal we set ourselves is reliable delivery of gas via the territory of Ukraine in necessary volumes. Therefore I think Ukraine can pump through nearly 200 billion of cubic meters of gas to Europe in the near future. We will answer this question when we combine efforts of Russia as gas supplier, the European Union as consumer and Ukraine as transit party. And all three parties will gain hereby. And Ukraine should ensure stable deliveries in the volumes I mentioned. It will suit us totally. And it will be our national interest. BBC: During your elections campaign you criticized Ukrainian-Russian gas agreements reached by Ms. Tymoshenko. Will the issue of gas agreements be raised during your visit to Moscow on March 5? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: I will raise this issue for sure. It concerns gas price. It should be fair for Ukraine. And generally speaking, this issue can and should be addressed within a broad range of issues related to gas supply. It is the issue of creation of gas-transport consortium, it is Ukraine’s access to Russian and Central Asian deposits, it is Ukraine’s participation in building of new gas-pipes, which, by the way, go in circumvent of Ukraine. Therefore we see that Ukraine should be a full-fledged partner in all gas issues with partners – Russia and the European Union. BBC: You said earlier you could consider the issue (well, putting it mildly, but consider the issue anyway) of recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Is it topical now or not? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: I was the opponent of carrying out a policy of double standards. When the issue of independence of Kosovo was in question, I said those were double standards toward Serbia, and they will affect negatively other territories of the frozen conflicts in the near future. And it happened both in Abkhazia and Ossetia. We encountered this case. I am against the policy of double standards! I told about it and I would like so that in the near future at the level of international relations (whether under the aegis of UNO or some new international forum, or return to the former agreement) the organizers of this issue (primarily UNO) recurred to it, considered it and applied common rules once and forever. BBC: US President Barrack Obama seems to have congratulated you on the telephone. Are you going to pay a visit to Washington? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: I have told US Ambassador Mr. John Tefft that I am ready to consider the terms of a visit to Washington. And definitely US President Mr. Obama and I have a lot of issues for discussion. I am looking forward to an answer. BBC: Now let us proceed to internal issues, and conclude with foreign policy, if you do not mind. What is with the coalition at the moment? Will it be formed? When and of what kind will it be? Because different scenarios are discussed… Viktor YANUKOVYCH: Coalition will be Ukrainian, pro-Ukrainian and no doubt it will be created in the near future in Verkhovna Rada. And a professional government will be formed. It is an urgent task because Ukraine does not have a budget for the first time since independence. Nowadays Ukraine is run manually, and it affects negatively a socio-economic situation in our state. And Parliament’s duty is to do it. Unless Parliament does it, there will be extraordinary parliamentary elections. BBC: As far as I understood you, a scenario of Yulia Tymoshenko as Prime Minister does not suit you? She should quit, so to say. Viktor YANUKOVYCH: First and foremost this scenario does not suit the Ukrainian people. Prime Minister Tymoshenko had 5 years to demonstrate her skills and show positive result of the country’s development, improvement of well-being of people. She did not succeed therein. The elections proved that the Ukrainian people do not trust her. Therefore there are no prospects in Parliament to create a parliamentary coalition under Prime Minister Tymoshenko. BBC: Do you have any preferences about Prime Minister – Azarov, Tigipko, Yatsenyuk, Ekhanurov or any other? Have you already thought about it? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: Certainly, I have my own point of view, however, taking into account that democratic processes are under way in Ukraine, Parliament has an opportunity to find the answer. Parliament will choose the candidature that will be the best. And if a majority supports someone from these MPs, the President of Ukraine will submit this candidature for consideration of parliament. BBC: But personally you could fill at least two posts – Defense Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Have you already made your mind, thought over this issue? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: Certainly, I have made my mind, and it will be out soon. BBC: And the last question: Have you already got used to be called “Mr. President”? Viktor YANUKOVYCH: It would not be honest to say yes. Certainly I need time to get used to it. |
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