President Yuschenko's National Address

Dear people of Ukraine,

Dear Speaker of the Parliament,
Dear Prime Minister,
Dear Members of Parliament,
Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am addressing this speech about the domestic and international situation in Ukraine first of all to our people, all citizens of Ukraine, and to the Ukrainian Parliament.

It is a challenging time both for Ukraine and in the whole world.  We need a calm assessment of the situation.  Let me hear anyone who has a sound thinking, and anyone who does not think of Ukraine either as a temporary refuge, or a source of gain.   

I have a right to these words.

You are well aware that I have an honest and firm stand on the main position of my life - the position of Ukrainian national interests. The nation and people - their free life, living in unity and democracy are the most important criteria for the Ukrainian authorities.
One hundred years ago, the first chairman of the independent Ukrainian parliament, and later Head of state Mikhail Grushevsky wrote an article «Greatest Foundations of Ukraine» and formulated the main principles of democracy:
 «It should take care of the idea of strengthening the democratic state, its expansion in the society, its nurturing in the sense of duty to it as the highest incentive of public life, which should unite all the population, all the people in one national impulse, overcoming party differences and dissensions, when and where the sphere of the main national interests starts».

Today I am addressing all - everyone who supports me and who opposes me; those who have not lost faith and those who have lost confidence.

I am appealing to all of our great nation.
We should have a broad minded, sincere and committed look at Ukraine, and it is in this commitment that we will find authentic national unity.

Over the past five years, Ukraine has certainly changed.  Fundamental processes have got off the ground.  Our main lines are ahead of us.

We are becoming consolidated as a nation, a united Ukrainian nation with a distinctive character, culture and language, tradition, history, which have been generated on our land. And at the same time, as a political nation, which is being developed without the division into views, faith, word, or origin. We are capable of making decisions, the essence of which is the national dignity. We have raised the recognition of the Great Famine at the global level. The world heard and understood us. Despite our political views and provided we are faithful to God and Ukraine, all of us are aware of the importance of creating a single local church.

This is said by the nation. This is pronounced by our dignity. We are learning to be a nation - open, walking by conscience, despite the discontent of others, making a revelation about ourselves – difficult and painful as it may be, but this pain is active and life-giving, since our spirit and body have received a chance to recuperate.

We have become a free state.  Since 2004 the people have been the main arbiter of this country. The opposition has come to power twice by way of free and fair elections. The freedom of choice and word has been the habitual standard with us for four years. This had not been the way before. Today it is natural like the air we breathe.

We have continued the large-scale historical process of European unification. For the last few years we have made more achievements than in the previous decade. This has been done not for someone else but for ourselves.

Our integration into European and Euro-Atlantic space is not an abstract goal any longer. Yet, it is not an end in itself. These are practical modern tools to help us bring prosperity to people and to guarantee the safety for our country, our people, our children and our grandchildren.

We have performed great systemic work.

As a result, Ukraine has made or come close up to exceptional decisions that were not possible only 5 years ago. These include the association of energy systems of Ukraine and the European Union and the nearest prospect of signing an agreement on energy cooperation, the agreement on Eastern Partnership, finalizing work on the agreement on the joint sky, the beginning of formal talks on visa-free regime of Ukraine - European Union, the process of negotiations in creating the free trade area with the EU. This is an unprecedented approximation towards the agreement on a political association of Ukraine - European Union, which will be signed this year.

Each mentioned step is already a real and achievable return of Ukraine to the European world.

We have concentrated on practical steps rather than slogans.
By becoming a member of the Bologna process, we have entered the integrated European educational space.
By becoming a World Trade Organization member, we have become equal partners at the European and world markets.
Having created a single business plan for upgrading the gas transmission system of Ukraine, we have started uniting our gas energy systems, which will result in bringing us not only economic benefits but in restricting the outside influence as well.

We have brought back to life the power supply system «Odessa-Brody-EU».  I do not have any doubts that it will become the main artery for energy sources from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

In addition to this project, together with Poland, we have become host countries of Euro-2012.  This event will support our economy and will reveal us for Europe and the world.
Ukraine has all chances to become different.

For less than five years our country has experienced the renewal, which is far from being superficial.

We have created conditions that allowed putting an end to the critical demographic processes.

Isn’t it a joy, common human joy that the year 2008 saw the birth of 84 thousand Ukrainian babies more than the year 2004!  For the first time during all the years of independence the birth rates exceeded those of mortality in our three oblasts.  And I am confident it is just a beginning.

Gradually as it may look, but we have still started to take more care of one another.  In 2008, every tenth Ukrainian orphaned child found their family.  Besides, note the remarkable tendency:  since 2006 it is the Ukrainian national adoption that has been expanding more increasingly.

In comparison with 2005, the number of children given to foster families and the number of family homes has grown 22 times!  Today parents, not the children as it used to be three years ago, have to wait in line for adopting children.

We have stopped the massive outflow of people abroad.

If according to statistics in 2001-2002 for each person who arrived in Ukraine there were two persons who left the country, today’s tendency is exactly reverse - people are coming back home.

We have made fundamental steps in education reform.

For the first time 425 thousand children were enrolled in the higher education institutions under the new rules of testing.  In fact, we become clean from the old corrupt system, which used to demoralize both parents and their children since childhood.  This is the first step to forming the conscience of new Ukrainian youth.

We have started the reform of the Armed Forces as well as of the entire security sector.  There have been fundamental changes - from increasing wages and benefits to reducing the call-up period of military service to 12 months.  Despite any difficulties, I am confident that we will come to creating professional Ukrainian troops.

Foreign investors have started to trust in Ukraine.  Over the past 4 years the volume of direct foreign investments in Ukraine have amounted to almost 27 billion U.S. dollars, which is three times more than all the attracted foreign investments during the time period since the proclamation of Ukrainian independence.

I will also mention the fact that our potential is well backed up by the characteristic feature: up until the crisis, the rate of our economy growth reached 6,5-7%, the index that was among the highest in Europe.  I truly believe that this index is yet to be restored.

Thus, we are not in the abyss, neither are we on the roadside.

We have reached the halfway, the middle of the road, which can lead us to a free, prosperous, safer and better society.  Without exaggeration and pathos.

Nobody will cross out our results.

But we could achieve a hundredfold more, if everyone professed the concept of national identity and unity, especially Ukrainian politicians.

Our current situation is not unique.

Dozens of other states and nations have experienced similar trials: Germany, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, The United States.
The answer to these challenges has always been the same:
Unity. Independence and national dignity. Ability to step over ambitions. Willingness to live one’s own life and by one’s own mind, not by the orders from foreign capitals. The desire to see in one another most important partners, rather than competitors, whom we should beat at any price.

We have won freedom.

But freedom is not only the background. Its main objective is our progress.

I am asking the nation, I am asking all of us to unite for the sake of our social progress.

Start team working where the main interests of the state, nation and the Ukrainian people start.

And this is the main essence of my message.

Dear compatriots,
Our international situation is secure, though vulnerable to numerous newest risks. Major hazards are resulting from the corrosion of international legal standards, from the general worsening of the atmosphere in the world relations, from Ukraine’s energy dependence and from dangerous, destructive and short-sighted attempts to use the rule of force in settling disputes or conflicts.

Our only possible answer, which has no alternatives, is abiding strictly by the international legal norms and obligations, conducting a constructive and balanced course and firmness in defending the chosen and legislatively defined goals.

The foreign policy priorities of Ukraine are steadfast and verified. European and Euro-Atlantic goals remain unchanged, and they will be inevitably achieved.

I emphasize again - this is for the benefit of all citizens of Ukraine.  I stand for the maximum improvement and straightening up of the relations with the Russian Federation.

I have the intention to do everything possible to turn over the page of misunderstanding and to ensure equal and friendly dialogue, which is to exist between neighbors.  The range of our interstate priorities remains broad - from Washington to Warsaw, from London and Paris to Beijing and Tokyo, from Seoul to Tripoli.

Especially in the light of current circumstances, we are obliged to enhance our presence at the foreign markets and establish new economic relations.

Ukraine is seeking to live and work in a secure regional environment.

We must fully implement all the national security requirements.

Our domestic situation is difficult, but not disastrous.

We have not gone beyond the limits. However, we are currently facing the three grave threats - economic decline, deepening the political crisis and massive social protests.

The main cause of the economic crisis in Ukraine is not outside, but in the inability of the state to conduct the necessary basic structural reforms for years, first and foremost, economic and social ones.

The long promised Ukrainians tax code, like «pennant for high-powered work practices», has been moving back and forth from the government to the parliament for ten years.

The individual privatization of strategic enterprises has been replaced by the clearance sales in accordance with the rules of mass privatization, which were typical as of the late 1990's.

We are not even talking about the reforms in energy and agriculture.

Today we are taking the last position in the ratings evaluating the entrepreneurial business environment.

We proved not to be ready to face the crisis.

That is why the first blow of the crisis appeared to be heavy and painful.

We have lost external markets, which had 60% of exports – almost all of our export proceeds depended on these markets, besides, nearly 2 million people were employed in metallurgy, chemistry and related fields.

This resulted in slowing the GDP growth, which last year made up 102.1% as compared to 106.7% in 2007 and got even a worse reduction of 25-30%, according to the results of January-February this year.  (I am presenting you with these data, despite the fact that there are being carefully hidden from the public).

All of this has worsened the social situation in Ukraine.

Arrears of wages from October 2008 to January 2009 almost doubled totaling the sum of 1.6 billion UAH.  Since last October, the number of the registered ranks of the unemployed have doubled.

However, I will stop here.

Dear compatriots,
I have not come to this hall to describe the problems that are currently typical for many countries, including our neighbors.

I have come here to offer a way out of the crisis.

The political calculations on being able to wait till the crisis is over somewhere on the other side of the road will not come true.

We are on the very threshold of the new economy, another global redistribution of labor and the ratio of prices for resources.

I am appealing both to the authorities and to the opposition.  Millions of people want to restore hope.

I want you to hear the voice of our people.

I am appealing to the Ukrainian politicians on behalf of millions of Ukrainian citizens.

Despite everything, you should walk over the conflicting views, being aware of the serious hazards.

Despite everything, we can be together at a critical moment for the sake of the state and for the sake of our people.

Our first consolidated steps have already given results.

We are restoring a dialogue with international financial organizations.

We have saved the banking system from the fall.  Every third hryvna has fled from the people’s accounts in banking system.  The banking sector has undergone systematic political persecution that undermined its rhythmic work.

It is highly unlikely that any other banking system, even more powerful than ours, would withstand such attacks, however, our system did withstand. The sum of over 70 billion USD was necessary for refinancing the national economy, so it could continue functioning.

We have launched a permanent anti-crisis mechanism of cooperation and consultations.

In the spirit of this work I am appealing to everyone who is present in the hall of the Verkhovna Rada.

I am asking you to hold the political passions in check and to impose a moratorium on every kind of bickering and conflicts.

Presidential campaign starts four months prior to the election.

So I am asking you to hold off any activities aimed at receiving political dividends till September.

I am asking you to give the state some time to get out of the most challenging phase of the trial.

I am coming up with a single national antirecessionary plan that will save the country and protect millions of our people.

It has two interrelated components.

Economic program and policies.

First. Economy.

I am highlighting it again: we are special but not unique in this crisis.

The world has provided us with both successful and the unsuccessful examples of policies in this regard.

Iceland, a developed European country, which until recently had 64 thousand dollars GDP per capita, has lost its economy, currency and the banking system.

Hungary and Denmark, even in the midst of the crisis crescendo, have revved up their production and reduced unemployment, and all of these happened at the background of slight inflation.

There is only one way-out: a real program of action. Therefore, I am coming up to the specific steps.

First and foremost, it is necessary to restore the financial stability in the country.

I have repeatedly stressed that the existing State budget for 2009 is populist by its nature, since it distorts the role of public finance.  It is a serious threat to the stability of national money and prices.

We need to reduce all possible unproductive expenditures and finally to start living within our means.

This applies to everyone – starting with the budgets of the state enterprises and down to each Ukrainian family.

We must make an immediate and dramatic review of the State Budget for 2009.

While reviewing the budget I will insist on guaranteed funding of the protected articles, which include the protection of social standards and minimal maintenance costs for state functions.

Under the conditions of enormous shortage of resources it is necessary to stop the dissipation of public resources for 300 state-targeted programs. This looks like a feast during the plague.

The Stabilization Fund should be given back the initial role that was defined at its formation: to finance major public projects instead of repaying the arrears in wages. This is complete nonsense.

We need to review the so-called balanced plan of the NAC «Naftogaz of Ukraine».

Anywhere in the world, such a monopoly would be prosperous. In our case it is a hidden and non-transparent government budget.
Today the company is in a deplorable condition.  If we do not take immediate measures in revising its financial plan, the consequences for the company will be dramatic.

We should urgently make realistic changes to the pension fund. Its billion deficits are covered at the expense of the Stabilization Fund. Such policy will bring about a collapse.

We need a pension reform.

I want to ask all those present:
Gentlemen, is it normal for the former General Prosecutor while continuing to work still to take out a monthly pension of 50,000 hryvnas?

Is it normal for the MPs, judges, high officials to receive the pension in the amount of15,000-20,000 hryvnas?  There are thousands of such examples.

This situation testifies to the utter contempt for millions of Ukrainian people.  This is the essence of social injustice.
 
I demand that all bonus pensions be cancelled by introducing a single criterion-wages and work experience.
 
This should be done by the parliament, and first of all, by the coalition.

We should introduce the property tax for the wealthy sections of the population, thus strengthening the financial base of the local self-government.

Though with a heavy heart, but I am asking you to support the issues suggested by the government to increase the excise duties and expansion of the income part of the Pension Fund. This is the littlest step necessary for supporting the resources of our state.

These priority steps will allow us to save the situation, including enforcing the cooperation with the IMF, which will renew trust towards Ukraine.
 
Secondly. Social responsibility.

It is the responsibility of the government and employers to provide employment, first of all, for the qualified employees.
I suggest creating a system of forecasting the development of the professional resources at the territories in order to precede the demand for the employees rather than trying to catch up with it.

It is necessary to stimulate the working force mobility inside the country. Even if it takes to relocate the employee from dozens of thousands kilometers away, he/she should be provided with a workplace.

Only in this way can we secure the employment.

The next item is renewing justice in the social welfare protection.  

This presents the biggest pain of our people.

At the same time, I will tell honestly: social welfare is not all about paternalism, nor is it about leveling in wages in the Soviet way of understanding.

We should bring order into the system of privileges and benefits as there are 19,5 million of privileged citizens in Ukraine. This equals to half of the country’s population. Not a single country would be able to afford it.

The current system of privileges is a totally unfair one. The people we refer to as the well-off are gaining the most subsidies from the country for the utility payments for gas, electricity. This fact cannot be accounted for in any way.

Social injustice implies giving support to the most impoverished, the most disadvantaged population.

This implies help to those that are willing to work.

This means a strict restriction to anyone that strives to make a profit out of the budget.

Thus, I call upon radical reductions in the number of privileges and benefits, especially those done on the professional criteria, to personalize those and bring the right for privileges in dependence on the financial and property ownership status.

Thirdly, we need to provide overwhelming support for the banking system. It is the backbone of economy that upholds the muscles of the real sector.

The state should immediately take on the responsibility for the banks that are currently in a difficult situation and enter their capital.
We have resources for these purposes, the budget has envisaged 44 billions hryvnas for the re-capitalization of the banks.

This responsibility should be backed up by the complete control over such banks.

I am convinced that dynamic state actions will bring about the renewal of citizens’ trust towards the banks. Once the public trust has been regained, the investors will also return.

However, the banking system should address the needs of the citizens, who are their most important partners.

I insist on implementing a single mechanism that would guarantee anyone who found themselves in great difficulties to get a support from the bank instead of being completely finished off by the system.

It is inadmissible to allow the reduction in the financing of the functioning enterprises, whose production goods are in popular demand.

The issue of trust is also relevant for the international currency rates. We have stabilized the exchange rate by providing practically a closed position from international trade. It was the negative balance of trade (12 billion US dollars) that caused the problem.

Why are currency fluctuations continuing? Unfortunately, it is the psychology, and the aftermath of the people’s reaction.

Back in 1998, Korea called its citizens to support the banks, and people started brining their money and golden jewelry to the banks.

I am not calling you to do this.

With all responsibility, I am asking the Ukrainian citizens to renew their trust towards the banks, not to withdraw their funds, not to cause harm either to themselves or the country, in this way supporting people, who like you, have taken loans.

The fourth point is to support the Ukrainian manufacturer because there is an effective demand for their produce.

The banking system should give an impulse for supporting the domestic demand.

There is only one criterion.

Only the enterprises that produce goods in demand should receive the resources. This is final.

It is necessary to provide all required loans for the strategic projects of the country, that are provided with private capital: Euro-2012, infrastructure development, and development of the energy, communications and transport.

For these purposes I suggest developing an open investment program of banks’ refinancing by the National Bank.

Finally, the fifth point. We should pay maximum attention to the potential areas of growth of the Ukrainian economy.

First of all, this is the agrarian sector, small and middle business.

The priority task in the agrarian sector is to support the market price formation for the nationally manufactured products. It is because no investment can replace the damages caused to the village by the administrative interference.

Last year the export of 6 million tons of grain was blocked. Moreover, this grain was stuffed into all the elevators so that it prevented us from accepting the new harvest.    

The grain got damaged, the market conditions became non-profitable, and the farmers lost 2 billion US dollars, which is twice as much as the whole sum of financial support for the agricultural sector stipulated by the state budget. The same applies to the meat, and sunflower oil market.

As a result the village is powerless and unprofitable.

Thus, it is necessary, once and for all, to stop any administrative interference into the work of the agriculture.

This sector should be immediately protected from the low quality and cheap import. I strongly object to the government canceling any added tax on meat products.

The farmers should be provided with credits and financial resources according to a strict and clear principle: the demand for the manufactured goods defines everything.

The activity of the Agrarian fund, the State reserve, SAC “Bread of Ukraine” should guarantee that the main profit be gained by the farmers and not the mediators.

The state should simultaneously increase the search for the sales markets of the Ukrainian produced goods and to promote those abroad.

Most importantly I demand to finally introduce the free sale of land.

The moratoriums for land sale that were applied four times in a row were nothing else but a new form of serfdom for the peasants.
The farmer should be liberated, and he will rescue and feed the whole Ukraine, and more.

Small and middle business.

Business is our main partner in preserving employment, and providing all necessary goods and services to the population.

I am talking about approximately 4 million of most economically active citizens.

It is them that can adjust to the new ways of activity rapidly, and it is their enterprises that will become the basis for the economic growth.

However, we need to take a number of steps such as simplifying the regulatory constraints for starting a business, running a business, and closing a business. We need to make sure that the system of inspection, including tax inspection, is legally established.
No regulatory act should be issued without an extraordinary need. All unnecessary acts should be cancelled immediately.

Ukraine is a reserve of Soviet system of standardization and certification that was left over and inherited by Ukraine from the whole post-soviet space.

The president of Ukraine at the request of the “Government and business are partners” forum entered all necessary legislative changes that are now in the Parliament.

Dear fellow countrymen,
Dear members of parliament, dear members of government,
These steps could improve the situation in the national economy and social welfare in the nearest future.

However, this is only part of the work.

We should make order not only within our home, but in the whole household.

Thus, we are coming to the political bloc.

I will say in short: the radical change of the election system should become the ground for qualitative re-staffing of both central and the local governments.

The existing closed proportional system has exhausted itself, it destroyed the government’s effectiveness, and especially that of the local self-government.

Due to the absence of adequate culture of politicians, the system has discredited itself in front of millions of citizens.
The results are named by people directly: the parliament has lost its level of professionalism, the Member of Parliament mandate has been devaluated, the connection between the member of parliament and the voter has been lost.

I will add to this list the following: politicization of the local councils instead of solving the issues of the territorial communities, exaggerated role of the party and factions’ leaders, creating the parties that are centered around the leader. All of these are the outcomes of the proportional election system.

Ukrainian citizens should be given back their right to a personalized selection of the members of Parliament.

The Parliament is the only legislative body that is obliged to implement the reform of the election system and to make a transfer from the open election lists during the parliamentary election towards majority based system at all local elections.

The people should obtain a right to vote not only for a certain political party, but for an individual candidate as well.

This will correct the existing negative trends within the parties and simultaneously create conditions for the real political competition and accountability, guarantee the new quality of work performance in all representative bodies of the state.

However, this would not be sufficient.

We should immediately start creating and introducing the new state governance model that would meet the needs and values of Ukraine as an independent state, and provide an answer to the current challenges.

I am convinced that this is the issue of the greatest national importance.

The drawbacks of the current order of the public power are pushing us to this.

They are caused by the changes to the Constitution made in 2004 that were politically premature and poorly thought out.
It is probably not by accident that the law, that introduced the political reform, even has a number-"2222."

These changes have practically distorted all basic components of governmental order.

The very function of the local self-government was replaced through introducing the election system based on party lists, which destroyed self-government.

A dualistic hybrid was created within executive branch, which limited the President’s influential power, whereas the government’s responsibilities have not been balanced by accountability to the parliamentary coalition. In addition, those two together did not become accountable to the people.

The Parliament gained power not only over issuing the legislature and forming the executive branch, but it also gained authority over forming the judicial powers, as well as all leading state institutions.

The contemporary European legal tenets do not envision concentration of power of this amount within one body.

I am underlining that the society clearly demands unity of power with simultaneous balanced distribution of duties and responsibilities between the power branches.

The proposals voiced currently of transferring to a certain model of governmental order whether it is a clearly parliamentary or a presidential one is yet another attempt to reformat the power in order to suit someone’s interests.

I am rejecting any displays of the power egocentrism and attempts to usurp power.

The society demands a rule of law and order and not a strong hand as some may think.

It is time to lay down clear and fair foundations for power distribution. The world has worked up relevant models that would be beneficial to implement in Ukraine.

I suggest implementing a two-chamber Parliament order with simultaneous reduction in the number of members of parliament.
In addition, the fundamental request of people to cancel the immunity of Members of Parliament should be finally fulfilled.
All the necessary conditions for this are available.

It is representative that the majority of the European countries that are unitary possess two-chamber Parliaments (such as Czech Republic, Poland, France, etc.)

The country needs a Parliament of the European sample. The National Assembly of Ukraine that would combine both political and territorial representation.

The lower chamber is represented by a chamber of Members of Parliament, and is elected through direct vote by the proportional system. The lower chamber is a political representation of the people.

In addition to legislative function, the lower chamber of parliament will be charged with the  responsibility to form the government and provide control over its performance.

I am deeply convinced that the government should not be elected unless it provides the program for its activity beforehand.
Lack of ability to appoint the government and adopt its program should result in dissolving the lower chamber and holding snap election.

I emphasize that this should be applied to only one of the chambers and not parliament in general that should maintain its effectiveness under any circumstances.

The upper chamber should be elected by the direct vote by majority based system and represent the communities and regions.
This chamber should assume the authority over appointing the staff members that are not governmental assignments, as well as adopting all decrees and resolutions of the President in defense and security area.

Equal representation of all Ukrainian regions within the Senate (3 senators in each region) should serve a unifying purpose.
The age qualification for the members of the upper chamber should serve the same purpose.

As a result, political turbulence should remain exclusively within the limits of the lower chamber with its characteristic sharp ways of political competitiveness.

In this way, we will balance and stabilize the power, broaden representative democracy, enforce the decentralization processes and improve the quality of the legislative activities.

In reference to the issue of the President of Ukraine. In my opinion, it is necessary to preserve the nation-wide direct representative institute of the head of the state.

The legal and constitutional status of the president is to serve as a guarantor of the state sovereignty, safety, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The president’s role in cooperation with the upper chamber is to guarantee the institutional stability of the country, implement all necessary reforms, and define the state policy priorities that should guarantee the nation’s civil progress.

At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers should gain an autonomous status. It is the government that should be responsible for ensuring the country’s domestic and foreign policies.

We should overcome the duality of the executive power.

I stand for preserving the parliamentary method of forming the government without exceptions and restrictions. The government should be formed by one source.

In this way, after coming to power by way of parliamentary election, the political parties will be able to appoint the government staff and implement the state policy and in this way fulfil their obligations to the electorate.

The provision of real support to the local self-government is a necessary component of the constitutional reform.

The community should become the foundation of the local self-government. The citizens should be provided with their basic social services through the community.

There should be constructed a clear and consequent hierarchy order line from the smallest local council to the county (region).
It is time to resolve that the representative bodies such as oblast and regional councils create their executive bodies and assign those with relevant authorities.

It is the executive councils’ committees that will be responsible for the actual state of affairs in the region and be accountable to the local elected officials and the people.

The existing state administrations should be removed from the executive power system and turned into the effective supervisory tools over the abidance by the Constitution, laws, rights and freedoms.

The quality changes within the local self-government are impossible without an effective administrative-territorial reform.
We should re-organize the existing irrational order of Ukraine.

Furthermore, the judicial and law reform are priority items of today’s agenda.

It is a burning and vital question of public importance to recover the trust of people to court.

The prominent philosophers of law said that justice is a foundation of social virtues and the guarantee of democratic freedoms.
To come closer to this goal, I am calling on the parliament to urgently approve the draft law of Ukraine «About the judicial system and the status of judges», which is now in the parliament.

Its adoption will be important, because the basic problem solved by installing a transparent procedure for selection of judges, increase the guarantee of their independence and strengthen the responsibility of judges.

The next step is radical changes in organizing the work of the law-enforcement system.

It is our task to reformat these institutions so that they start defending the citizens’ rights instead of protecting the interests of the government, the prejudicial inquiry should be delivered from accusation trend.

We should implement competitiveness and procedural equality.

We should provide the state guarantees for the criminal persecution. The existing practice of replacing these functions, which is done by the courts, should be done away with.

I appeal to the Ukrainian parliament to treat my words with all responsibility and adopt the new Criminal-procedural code immediately.

This work should be started urgently by the functioning Verkhovna Rada.

We need changes that would truly change the pace of history.

These changes are not possible without systematic renewing of the Ukrainian Constitution.

I have called on all parliamentary political forces to start joint and balanced work.
I am confirming my proposal.
I am doing it in a direct and public way.

I would like our country to be ruled by the Constitution that is not created to suit politicians, but the Constitution tailored to our people, our country, our freedom, and our progress.

We are in the middle of the road.

We should approve of the new Basic Law in these difficult times.

Dear (highly respected) Ukrainian people,

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

I have the honor to pass the draft of the new version of the Constitution of Ukraine to the speaker of the parliament, and I ask that you would review it as an immediate document.

Dear fellow countrypeople,
 
Today is the best time for action.

I am ready to cooperate with anyone that would support my position and share the vision of the joint anti-crisis work.

You are well aware that I was right, when warning about the rash political changes and economic populism.

You are well aware that I stood firmly for the protection of the national priorities.

You are well aware that I abide by all the obligations that I assumed.

I am calling you to renew the mainstream political culture/etiquette in Ukraine.

The current government and the parliament are facing the tasks that are especially difficult.

The country's destiny and the speed of overcoming the crisis are in your hands.

Any nation that is thinking by a long-term perspective is using urgent anti-crisis measures.

I am calling you to support my program and unite on the basis of the shared economic platform.
 
My priorities are known to everyone.

My priority is a united Ukrainian nation.

It is the well-off middle class Ukrainian that is protected.

It is a healthy society that promotes living moral and family values.
 
It is the safety of the individual and the citizen and guaranteed protection of our rights and freedoms.

It is business stability without confiscations and restrictions.

It is the country's security as a full pledged member of the Euro-Atlantic community, equal partner and active participant of the international life.
 
I have not departed one iota from these foundations.

I am continuing and will continue my work.

I know that the truth of the national position shall prevail.

The challenges will pass away and we will square our shoulders.

In early 1920's when there was a long crisis in Europe, one Spanish philosopher appealed to the low-spirited people:
 
He said:

"If Spain desires to revive, it should revive its powerful strive for the perfection. Political reforms only are not enough. We should buckle down and apply all efforts to direct the nation towards the road of perfection."

Dear Ukraine, we are a big, strong, and free country.

Our goal is to make a real big next step towards better life.

We are only in the middle of the road.

We should pull our efforts together.

We should believe in ourselves.

We should move forward.

Glory to Ukraine!

Thank you for your attention.