Editor’s Note: The following is a transcript provided by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine of U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s 16-minute remarks to an audience at the diplomatic academy in Kyiv on Nov. 12, 2018.
The full transcript can be read here.
Key excerpt:
This is no time to stand idly by. Now is the time to think big. Now is the time to take action. Not by some self-driven interest on the part of a few and at the expense of the many. It is no longer the time for continued debate. It is the time for action. Ukraine must establish reasonable milestones and hold one another accountable. Ukraine has the tools to realize its energy and economic potential. Your destiny is in your own hands.
Just like my home state of Texas, Ukraine has the potential to undergo a miracle in its energy sector. … And so I would encourage you, the elected leaders of this proud and independent nation, to pursue policies of transparency and free markets that will increase the investment and growth. Now is the time to act on policies that will allow you to move out from under the shadow of Moscow.
Such policies must support the rule of law.
They must help root out economic corruption.
They must promote healthy competition and vibrant gas and electricity markets.
They will advance information sharing, such as the geological data that was just made public here within the last few days, and that transparency that goes with making that information available, giving that information to companies that want to come and invest in Ukraine.
You have got to have open and transparent tenders. The implementation of production sharing agreements. I cannot tell you how important that is to the future of this country. So that these companies know that when they come here that it’s an agreement that’s not vague. It’s agreements that surely and clearly say: this is what we’re going to do, this is what what you’re going to do, here’s the benefit. Those production-sharing agreements are so important to the future development of the resources of this country. They will encourage that private sector firm to come, to invest, bring in advanced technology and know-how to help Ukraine develop its own resources.
