OREANDA-NEWS. June 21, 2010. President Viktor Yanukovych met with members of Yalta European Strategy Board of Directors.
Opening the meeting President Yanukovych praised professional qualities of the team that has the opportunity to work in Ukraine in a very interesting time, when a lot of changes are happening.

"After all the years of independence of Ukraine, we have for the first time got the chance to change things, because at all levels, from President, to Prime Minister, Parliamentary Coalition and local authorities in all regions we are a single team that can now take on commitments and bear responsibility," he said.

President Yanukovych said that Ukraine’s main strategic goal has always been, is and will be integration into the European Union. He added that the appropriate reforms aimed at bringing achievement of this goal closer are already elaborated and would begin in 2010 and that the process of harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with that European continues.

At the meeting Viktor Yanukovych also pointed out that Ukraine is already experiencing first signs of economic recovery. In particular, he said, exports have grown 31%, imports have increased 16% and GDP growth was 4.9%.

"We had a lot to do in order to reduce the budget deficit, and we deliberately undertook obligations before the IMF to reduce it to 5.6%, adopting such a budget. Now we see that we stay in these parameters. The deficit will not exceed 5.6%," he said.

Viktor Yanukovych informed that the government is now working on a long-term strategic program of development of Ukraine for at least 5 years. Then it will get to a development program for the next decade.

The President stressed that that government expects 2011 budget deficit to be 3,5% and 2% in 2012. To achieve that, according to him, the government has already approved reduction of spending on state apparatus at all levels.

"Our main goal is to build an effective economy. We must significantly reduce expenditures and consequently raise revenues. We know how this can be done, and we will do it," he said, adding that the government deliberately reduced the state apparatus by 20% as well as upper limits of pensions for government officials.

During the meeting Viktor Yanukovych also touched upon combating corruption. "Actually, we start fighting corruption from scratch. There were no anti-corruption laws in Ukraine. So it can be considered a reform too, and we will be implementing it step by step."

The President also told about judicial reform, noting that already this year the new law on judiciary and the status of judges in Ukraine will be voted. He said that other important laws in this direction were already passed in the Parliament in the first reading and that before the second reading, public hearings and consultations with the Venice Commission will be held on them.

In conclusion, the President noted that it has always been a pleasure for him to work with representatives of Yalta European Strategy and expressed hope that such fruitful cooperation will go on.

Alexander Kwasniewski, from his part, said that the organization watches the work of President Viktor Yanukovich and his team with interest and sees its positive results.

"The political stabilization observed is very necessary in Ukraine. It provides a platform for reforms and modernization, as well as for development of relations between Ukraine and the EU and other countries," he said.

Alexander Kwasniewski also said that Yalta European Strategy is ready to assist Ukraine in approaching the EU and invited President Yanukovych to attend the annual meeting of the organization scheduled on October 1, 2010.