The EU-Ukraine summit has left many questions unanswered. Although the guests from Europe were markedly courteous and did their best to show just how happy they were to be present there, not a single instrument was signed. The Party of Regions doesn’t regard this summit as a fiasco and believes that Brussels did Ukraine a good turn by referring to it as a European country in an official statement.
“The main thing is that this summit has been held, Volodymyr Vechirko, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada’s European Integration Committee, told The Day, adding: “From now on everything will relate to technicalities. This agreement numbers over a thousand pages, so everything has to be carefully examined. It is true that the European side came up with certain critical remarks, primarily in regard to the freedoms of expression and assembly, so that Ukraine can actually start evolving along the European lines, so that Ukrainian business can operate transparently… The Ukrainian side took all these critical remarks into consideration and I think that we have to move in this direction.”
How about Yulia Tymoshenko?
“Tymoshenko, indeed. I was in Strasbourg and Brussels two months ago, busy handling exclusively European integration issues. I’m not aware of the subtle aspects of this case. I haven’t seen any contracts.”
No one has seen them, yet this issue is being discussed across Ukraine.
“Let them discuss it.”
Getting back to European integration, half a year ago we heard that the association agreement would be signed in Kyiv. Two months ago, we were told that both sides were prepared to initial it in principle. Now all we know is that both sides are prepared to eventually initial this agreement. How can one describe this summit as historic under the circumstances?
“It is historic. Ukraine has been referred to as a European country. Ukraine can now refer to Article 49 of the Lisbon Treaty that reads: ‘Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union…’ This has to be credited to the current political leadership. Fighting for Ukraine to be acknowledged as a European country has taken a long time, but now we have this word combination in an official text. European integration is what our economy and business need in the first place, so there can be a better market for Ukrainian products. This is also what our younger generation needs, so Ukrainian students can go to Europe. After the New Year we‘ll work on simplified visa procedures allowing Ukrainian nationals to tra-vel outside Ukraine. Visa-free treatment is a number-one issue on the agenda.”
Do you expect this visa-free treatment while Tymoshenko is in jail?
(Pausing to think): “I’ll do my best to enable Ukrainian nationals to travel across Europe on a visa-free basis. This is where we must make every effort, and let Tymoshenko’s associates reach their goals, helping their leader. Somehow they aren’t making any efforts to that end. I believe that the whole faction should campaign for their leader. All of them should have picketed the courthouse instead of watching on or changing sides, joining other factions. All of them owe much to Yulia Tymoshenko. Without her they would have no seats in parliament. Do you agree with me?”
Absolutely.
“My task, as Chairman of the European Integration Committee, as a member of the Council of Europe, is to see what’s going on in my sector and try to do my best to keep it ticking and under control.”
I realize that the Tymoshenko case is a topic you’d best left unmentioned, but from a purely human point of view, aren’t you worried about a lady having to meet the New Year, then Christmas [Eastern Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 6. – Ed.] in jail?
“I would like to live in a democratic society where no one would be able to persecute anyone. I’m worried about how we will live next year, our economy, our Euro-2012 project. I hope this project will come to pass and we’ll be able to spend what’s left of the budget, any surplus funds, on health care, old-age allowances, stipends, and to meet other social needs. That’s what really worries me as a physician with an MD, as a bureaucrat, as an individual. It shames me to learn about the appointment of yet another Minister of Health of Ukraine; I am ashamed to realize that we have professionally incompetent cabinet members – unlike their counterparts during Soviet times – and that such ministers are made in four hours.”
How would you explain such frequent replacements of Ukraine’s health ministers?
“Don’t ask me. Ask the Presidential Administration or the Prime Minister. Ask them about their appointment criteria. No one has asked my opinion.”
You are concerned about the Ukrainian economy. Why?
“With pressure on business from ‘upstairs’ I can’t visualize Ukraine negotiating any deals with separate European countries, let alone the European Union. It is important to liberalize our market today. Let all of them import or export goods, instead of keeping exports controlled by bureaucrats. Today we need large investments in Ukraine’s agrarian sector, infrastructures, and energy-saving projects.”
Our budget bill will be passed this week, including the good old gas price: 400 dollars.
“A lower price would be a surprise.”
Do you think there is such a possibility?
“Probably, but Ukraine would have to pay a dear price for this decrease. Russia would demand something in return. I think Ukraine has an option, like increasing the extraction of its own gas (we have the resources to do just that), and last but not least, building a liquefied gas terminal at the Odesa seaport, on the double. Ukraine would then have supply alternatives and be able to adopt a different tone when negotiating deals with Russia. I also believe that any changes in this sphere will be possible after the end of the presidential campaign in Russia.”
