Vyacheslav Kyrylenko: Reform efficiency will directly depend on mutual understanding between all branches of the Ukrainian government

December 17, 2014, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Culture of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kyrylenko had a working meeting with a delegation of the US Atlantic Council – Eurasia Centre Director John Herbst and Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky.

During the meeting the parties discussed the mechanisms of coordination of efforts to shape a positive image of Ukraine in the world, as well as the areas of potential collaboration between the Atlantic Council and the Ukrainian Government in the culture area. Peculiar attention was paid to the tools to improve the effectiveness of the reforms planned by the new Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

John Herbst stressed that recent approval by the U.S.A Congress of a draft Ukraine Freedom Support Act depicts the position of a civil society of America and expressed hopes the bill would come in effect soon.

In turn, Vyacheslav Kyrylenko informed the visitors about the plans of the Ukrainian Government on decentralization of financing government spending, reducing the tax burden on employer and downsizing of the state apparatus. The official stressed that Reform efficiency will directly depend on the cooperation and coordination of efforts among the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ukrainian Parliament and the President of the country.

"We will be capable to carry out a certain part of the reforms only synchronously with the relevant constitutional amendments. It is important to understand that this is not about political reputation of any of the Gov’t members, but the preservation of Ukrainian statehood and our European prospect", said the Vice Prime Minister.