Addressing a seminar for repre sentatives of oblast media outlets, President Kuchma made several declarations shedding light on his specific interpretation of the present political situation in Ukraine. He said he will leave office in November of 2004 after his term expires. “This is not a forecast, I’m telling the truth. Yes, I am going to step down in November 2004,” Interfax-Ukraine reports.
Leonid Kuchma stressed that the present political crisis is “a carefully planned action,” but the country should move ahead, and this is clear to everybody.
Asked for comment on Ukraine’s worsening international profile in the wake of recent developments, the president responded, “The case needs no comment. We have to get back on our feet and move on.” According to the president, it is necessary to draw conclusions and “find out the causes for the fall, was it due to oneself or due to being tripped by someone’s foot.” In this particular case, Pres. Kuchma claimed, the president has been tripped. He went on to say that he will soon know the names of those who provoked the crisis. “We are coming closer to this,” he stressed.
The president noted that despite his calls to provide him with the originals of the tapes “no one has done so,” adding, “I can’t understand why.” He also pointed to the fact that although he had had twenty to thirty meetings with Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko and Speaker Ivan Pliushch, not a single tape recording their conversations has been produced. These were high-profile meetings where his role was mainly that of “an observer,” Mr. Kuchma added.
Later, Kuchma reiterated that he will not sit at the negotiating table with the opposition to discuss his resignation. The head of state rhetorically asked, “Am I really that insane to talk to those who are demanding my resignation?” Addressing the opposition, he declared, “I am not against you making amendments to the Constitution and starting the impeachment procedure. Be my guest.”
Pres. Kuchma also stressed that in his view there is no systemic crisis of power: state institutions continue functioning and the situation in the regions remains stable. But he admitted that some political problems exist, expressing hope that “the politicians who call themselves the opposition will show more common sense than they do today.” The president proposed that the opposition “view itself from the sidelines in the eyes of average citizens.”
He confirmed his having given instructions to aides to hold consultations with representatives of the opposition. “However, no one seems to know whom to approach.” Mr. Kuchma said Yuliya Tymoshenko might head the opposition, reaffirming his attitude toward earlier court rulings on the Tymoshenko case, saying court decisions have to be carried out: “Court decisions must be binding on everybody. Those stealing a sack of chaff get five years in prison, while in other cases some are proclaimed national heroes because they have big money. It’s a completely different story.”
Leonid Kuchma advised the journalist who asked this question to go to the United States where he can familiarize himself with the files in former Premier Pavlo Lazarenko’s case, with the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (that Yuliya Tymoshenko headed) allegedly referred to almost on every page. The president remarked here that only when such nouveau riche Ukrainians go abroad can they be brought to justice. He then explained, “I mean, had Lazarenko not gone to the United States or Zherdytsky to Germany, what would have happened in Ukraine?”
In addition, Pres. Kuchma said he gave instructions to set up an ad hoc commission to look into how the government’s work has been covered by the state-run UT-1 television. He also confirmed that last Tuesday he received the cabinet’s request he dismiss National Television Company President Vadym Dolhanov for what has been called “incorrect reporting on the government’s work.”
According to the chief executive, if coverage of the government’s work by the UT-1 was really biased, he will “make the right decision” and then asked, “Who decided it was incorrect. In such a case, I could also send an appeal to parliament against Holos Ukrayiny (Verkhovna Rada’s official organ) for slinging mud against the head of the state. I am unable to fire its chief editor who is a people’s deputy but who, due to his status, cannot double dip as editor.” The president reiterated that he respects the freedom of expression, saying [about the editor], “Let him bark, it makes me concentrate more on my work.”
Then he reaffirmed his plans to integrate into Europe and develop relations with Russia, reminding that Ukraine is completely dependent on Russia for its fuel supplies and asking, “Why is the situation brought to such state that they want to lay oil and gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine?” He said Europe is interested in developing its links with Russia, while “some Ukrainian politicians say this is a mistake.” In conclusion, the president emphasized, “Under no circumstances will Ukraine alter its European choice.”
