In case anyone wonders why Ukraine is not moving forward with economic reforms, here is the answer: government sabotage.
At a Jan. 17 meeting,
President Viktor Yanukovych lashed out at Prime Minister Mykola
Azarov and his other subordinates for corruption and bureaucracy that
permeate the nation, and said they have stalled his economic reforms.
Yanukovych campaigned
ahead of and after his victorious 2010 presidential bid on an
ambitious plan of economic change. But almost three years into his
presidency, he cannot boast of enacting much of the plan.
Despite minor improvements
in the past year, Ukraine continues to trail in international
business and economic development rankings. Among the chief reforms
planned for 2012 but not carried out were land reform, medical
pilot projects and completion of pension reform. Azarov, who was
reappointed as prime minister in December, and local administrations
got the blame for failing to implement the 2012 presidential reform
action plan.
The criticism took place at a meeting of the presidential advisory committee that includes ministers,
local and central government officials and members of his
administration. It is chaired by Yanukovych and created to foster economic modernization.
Iryna Akimova, deputy head
of the president’s administration, said that
the president’s action plan was fulfilled in percentages ranging from 15 to 70 percent,
depending on the sector – a much bleaker picture than the one Azarov tried to paint.
Akimova said positive
change is stalled by poor quality legislation adopted by parliament,
lack of discipline among officials and inefficient use of finances.
She said the region where change is slowest is western Ukraine,
where, coincidentally, Yanukovych’s Party of Regions is the least
popular.
“How can you
only do 35
percent (of the reforms plan)?”
Yanukovych inquired indignantly. “This is
sabotage. People
have just lost responsibility.”
He went further,
suggesting that people responsible for various sectors “could not
drop from the past life, which is tied to corruption and with the
outdated bureaucratic system.” He reiterated that those suspected
of corruption should be investigated and punished.
He said people across the
nation have to start feeling positive changes in their lives.
“I
would like you to realize that if we declare
something, we
have to do it. No one is crushing your fingers in a doorway and
pressuring you to take responsibility,”
Yanukovych told the ministers.
When
leaving the meeting, Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk told
reporters the president was not criticizing the government, but merely
pointing out some deficiencies
When
asked if being accused of sabotage amounted to criticism, he replied:
“No.”
Kyiv Post staff
writer Yuriy Onyshkiv can be reached at [email protected]
