Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko laid out his view of the tasks and priorities facing Ukraine this year. He did this at the traditional yearly gathering of the heads of diplomatic services and international organizations accredited in Ukraine. According to the president, one of the main tasks is to seek optimal ways of solving the most difficult problem of the state’s development. “We are jointly forming a culture of political compromise. This work is acquiring a new quality in 2007,” he noted, calling the creation of the Constitutional Commission one of the key initiatives of the short-term future.
“We are bound to implement an effective balance of rights and responsibility between our power branches, reliably ensure citizens’ rights and freedoms, and caution Ukrainian society against any manifestations of authoritarianism,” the head of the state declared, stressing that Ukraine is moving closer to building a “stable national consensus.”
President Yushchenko said that Ukraine’s priorities are unchangeable. They are: building a pluralistic democracy, developed civil society, modern, innovative economy, and the European choice. Thus, the key task facing the country and its government is achieving the state’s competitiveness in the political, economic, and humanitarian dimensions, and in the sphere of security.
On the subject of security Yushchenko emphasized that “Ukraine rejects the policy of vagueness, which may lead to a lack of security. We continue to conduct a mutual dialogue with NATO for general security and stability.”
According to the president, Ukraine will consistently stay the course of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The top-priority practical matter is joining the WTO and working effectively with the European Union on the new strengthened agreement that will become “the foundation for political association and deeper economic integration.”
With regard to relations between Ukraine and Russia, Yushchenko expressed his conviction that the Ukrainian-Russian Inter-State Commission will become a powerful factor in boosting cooperation through concrete large-scale projects. He considers relations with all neighboring countries strategically important, noting that Ukraine is also oriented toward the further strengthening of its strategic partnership with the US on the bilateral level and in order to triumph over global and regional challenges.
