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The Party of Regions Leader Viktor Yanukovych's interview to the TV channel "Inter", program "Podrobytsi (Details) ", March 16, 2008
17.03.2008, 11:08
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: Good evening!
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: Good evening!
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: A compromise decision that ended the blockade of parliament's work: you have demanded for a long time that Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the speaker of parliament, recalled his signature from the letter on joining NATO's Membership Action Plan.
You required a referendum for any step, any action concerning Ukraine's accedence to NATO. The signature has not been recalled. The parliament's compromise resolution – accession to NATO only through a referendum, was passed indeed, but without the larger part which you demanded.
In fact, there is not a single word about joining NATO's Membership Action Plan. Tell us please, does it mean that you actually agreed with the coalition's terms?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: Of course, not. If you read the resolution attentively, it is written in accordance with the international treaties. International terms envisage the procedure, beginning from a directive, and the procedure goes on, it is all written in the law on international agreements.
The actions undertaken by the authorities adorn neither our country nor decision-makers of the state. The way of their signing this letter will never inspire Ukraine's partners respect. I mean NATO.
When in Brussels, I heard the European officials' opinion: they understand our position, and absolutely agree that unless there is a consensus of political forces, the issue could not be approved.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: But you see: a compromise has been reached, parliament was unable to function for almost a month, deputies did next to nothing. Why the same compromise could not have been achieved a month ago and mutual understanding acquired?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: The coalition should give an answer to this question. We demanded from the first days either to recall the VR speaker's signing the letter, or to accept an appropriate resolution. We suggested a resolution, one, another... That is, a decision was failed to be found.
We understood well that this decision could be passed only at a consent or support of the coalition people's deputies, and eventually it turned out that we had convinced our colleagues.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: If I understand you correctly – at the moment politicians united for one point: if Ukraine is to join NATO, this issue should be settled at a referendum, the people should make their presence felt, shouldn't they? And then if it is "yes", Ukraine will join, if it is "no", Ukraine will not join, will it? Does it concern NATO's Membership Action Plan?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: As to making this decision: if officials at the Bucharest summit treat the Ukrainian people with respect, with understanding (as, by the way, was said by Angela Merkel, who expressed her opinion on making this decision), this decision will be postponed for sure, because Ukraine's internal situation does not favour making this decision today.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: Let us consider the NATO issue as solved at the political level. Which current issues could make you block the parliamentary tribune again, alterations to the budget, status of the UPA?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: The authorities' attempt to perform in the unconstitutional way, violating laws, the Constitution or the VR Regulations will always entail similar actions by opposition, by the Party of Regions. That is, we will never let Ukraine pursue illegal, unconstitutional path. We will always assert the law and citizens' rights.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: Immunity has become a stumbling stone in parliament again. Next week deputies will argue about this issue again – to abolish deputies' immunity or along with people's deputies – judges and the president, as you propose.
Tell us, please, whether the politicians who now represent parliament, political forces could unite and accomplish a pre-election pledge to abolish deputy immunity of themselves: show an example, and then demand it from other deputies.
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: I want to say that we have offered constantly to take these two laws, combine them and vote jointly. This was our suggestion rejected by our opponents, taking into account that we have 222 votes (who, by the way, voted for our law).
Tell me, please, why did the coalition fail to vote for the law? Why do they say one thing, and do another, why did they fail to vote? They have the majority after all. Nobody impeded them. Let them vote for their law every day and round-the-clock if they like, but they do not give votes...
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: You criticize the present coalition constantly. How do you imagine the Party of Regions and Yulia Tymoshenko Block coalition? Are there are examples of your common voting?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: Primarily, as for criticism, I want to say that its objectivity is principle for us. We try to be unbiased in these attacks. Therefore, criticism is always good either to any political force, or to any authorities, or to any person.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: But with which political force do you assume a broad coalition and union in the parliament?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: I find it difficult to reply. Given the present parliament composition, I do not see simple answers for these questions. This process is very complicated. I would respond in one sentence: everything is possible.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: And how realizable is a scenario of parliament dissolution nowadays? To what extent does an option of parliament dissolution suit you?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: We consider that pre-term elections have never benefited the country. It is a waste of money, which should be assigned for the country's development, granted to the most vulnerable layers of the population, to poor people. Therefore, we were against the last pre-term elections as well – you know our position.
Should the authorities convince the society of its failure to work in such composition, the only way is new elections.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: You blame the Tymoshenko government for economic indicators, which are not the best at the moment, as you say. You are the largest parliamentary faction in Verkhovna Rada, could parliament fail to influence inflation processes in the state, change it somehow for the time being?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: It is a function of executive power rather than of parliament. As they say, you should not associate us with them. Everybody should be in charge for his matters, and in this case one will not succeed to shift his responsibility nowadays. We see today that nobody wants to tell the truth – populism, downright lies prevail.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: You suggested holding the hearings in parliament on the country's energy security. Taking agreements into account, of what importance they are at the moment?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: We have not withdrawn this issue. On Wednesday we held the Opposition government sitting and made a decision to propose the Verkhovna Rada, the government, the president a way out which we consider the most correct for the time being.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: Given the agreements recently reached between Kyiv and Moscow, the contract stipulates that 10% of domestic gas market will be let to gas monopolist Gazprom. How dangerous is it for Ukraine?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: I find it difficult to answer now why we gave it away, what price Russia pays for Gazprom's outright obtaining of 10% of Ukraine's consumer market. I do not have such information.
Therefore, I repeat that we should be aware of the present authorities' actions. We should elaborate this issue so that the scheme was transparent and predictable as far as possible.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: You have recently sent a letter to the President criticizing the Tymoshenko government's privatization activity but in fact repeated the President's Decree of March, 7, which limited privatization of strategic units.
It is only one point among a number of issues, in which Your position and the President's position coincide. Tell us, please, you criticize the Tymoshenko government almost similarly in many questions, I dare say, is it just a coincidence?
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: I believe that we should have a shared aim, both authorities and opposition, – to increase the economy level and the people's living standard. Therefore, we oppose the populist policy and our opinions have coincided in this case.
And it is not only a point of view of Yanukovych and Yushchenko, or Yushchenko and Yanukovych. I would say that it is a point of view of Ukrainian and international professionals and experts. Because it belongs to all Ukrainian people. And representatives of the Ukrainian people, who should assert it, are in parliament.
Ruslan Senichkin, journalist: We are only to hope that the parliament will be able to work. I thank you for an interview.
Viktor Yanukovych, the Party of Regions faction Leader: And I thank you. | |
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