Opening address by Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on 2 July, 2014

We have just concluded a meeting of the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Prime Minister. We discussed issues that should be supported by the Parliament tomorrow.

There has been also a general assessment of the current situation in the country. I would like to inform briefly, first of all, on those bills, which should be supported by the Parliament, which should be considered tomorrow and that are extremely important for the country. I hope that the coalition, which is presented in the Cabinet of Ministers as well, will support those bills that are on the agenda.

Firstly, it is a matter of introducing a state of emergency in the energy market. This bill is on the agenda, and it should be voted tomorrow.

Secondly, it is a matter of the gas transportation system. Admission to the modernization and operation of the Ukrainian gas transportation system for the EU member states and the USA - it is also an essential law that should be adopted tomorrow.

NJSC Naftogaz with the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry have been instructed to prepare an energy conference in Ukraine designed to demonstrate to the EU and vice versa, what a new joint model of energy market together with the EU member states, which have ratified and perform the third energy package, we will build together.

I cannot forget to mention amendments to the Constitution submitted by the President of Ukraine and that should also be considered by the Parliament tomorrow. Decentralization of power in the country still remains for us one of the main tasks, to transfer powers to local government, to transfer financial resources to local government as well as to transfer responsibility to local government, so as they don’t forget that not only rights are transferred, but also responsibilities.

So, I hope that the Parliament shall tomorrow show unanimity in making the decisions that are necessary for Ukraine. Including today, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall consider and submit to the Parliament a draft law on the strategy to fight corruption till 2017. I would like to point out that it is impossible to restore economic growth in the country without real striking against the main obstacle on our path to reforms - corruption.

Also today, the Government decides on ten specific steps to be taken in the implementation of our anti-corruption plan and our Anti-Corruption Strategy. After a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, I am asking the Minister of Justice to inform the media about what we will clearly do day by day so as to destroy corruption in state bodies, public companies, where it is blooming, in all sorts of services, inspections, customs, tax, fiscal and other bodies, as our cooperation with the IMF and other financial creditors is directly connected with the success of an anti-corruption strategy.

Today, therefore, the Government is going to adopt an Anti-corruption strategy and also address the Parliament to support a draft law that all branches of government (executive, legislative and institution of the President) fulfill together what require the people of Ukraine. And the people of Ukraine require a fair, honest and non-corrupt official, judge and prosecutor, access to any public information, disclosure of all data, both on incomes and expenditures for civil servants, judges, prosecutors, police officers and their families.

We have already done a lot over the past three months in the adoption of legislation that is several steps ahead of neighboring countries, first of all, it is legislation proposed by the Cabinet of Ministers and adopted by the Parliament and associated with the transition to the second stage of the visa-free regime. So, de facto there is a solid legal framework designed to fight corruption, but adoption of a law is not enough, it must be implemented.

Therefore, in the framework of our plan of reforms, today the Government is going to approve a plan of urgent measures to combat corruption. These are ten anti-corruption steps of the Government of Ukraine.

As to material and technical provision, medical and social security of Ukrainian troops, National Guard and all persons involved in the ATO. Today I have made a decision to send to the ATO an ad hoc commission from representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Health, State Financial Inspection with a view to reporting me directly by telephone about the use of billions of funds provided by the Government of Ukraine on national security and defense. A report shall be submitted within three days. The First Deputy Minister of Defense has been dismissed from his duties and we will make personnel decisions, which will be announced in addition.

Also today, the Government will make a decision on the introduction of chaplain service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. That’s for maintaining fighting spirit, faith, faith in our victory. I appeal to representatives of all confessions to support the Ukrainian army and Ukrainian troops.

God is with us and thus the victory!