Yanukovych promises to prevent further exacerbation of situation in Ukraine
KYIV. Dec 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said the main task for the Ukrainian administration is to prevent shocks and work together on reforms and modernization of the country.
"Our main task, I mean the task of the authorities, is to prevent shocks. National dialogue should take place, and it will only do good, but shocks will affect primarily the most vulnerable population groups. We need to look for something that will unite us in the state. The desire to speed up changes and change the situation will unite us. This energy of change is essentially the energy of further reform, further modernization of the country," Yanukovych said at a meeting of the Council of Regions, the presidential press service reported.
Among the problems faced by Ukraine Yanukovych mentioned violations of citizens' rights and liberties and corruption. For this reason, some citizens demand from the authorities fast and even radical change, while others expect more consistent evolutionary development.
"I cannot agree with those opposition forces that are trying to use this situation to divide powers into their own interests. Some political leaders are openly speculating on our fellow citizens' wishes, trying to use this energy to fuel radical actions. It's unacceptable. We will not allow it. We will live according to the Constitution and Ukrainian law," Yanukovych said.
The president ordered Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to resolve the problem with the payment of wages to Kyiv public sector workers by December 30. "I am asking you, Mykola Yanukovych, to resolve this issue in the next few days so that the money is in people's bank accounts no later than December 30 and people can get it," Yanukovych said.
Yanukovych said the issue should be resolved despite the fact that the last session where a decision was expected to be made on the redistribution of additional funds for wages to public sector workers in November-December. "The people who prevented that decision form being made should bear responsibility to their conscience, if they have it, and to people," Yanukovych said.
Yanukovych also demanded that the government make decisions on consistent reduction of the gas price to consumers in the nearest future.
"I would like to ask you, Mykola Yanukovych, to make appropriate decisions together with the National Energy Commission on consistent reduction of the gas price to our consumers so that our consumers and manufacturers feel it beginning on January 1," the president told Azarov.
Yanukovych also said the state budget for 2014 should be adopted no later than January 16. "Let's hope that it will be adopted on January 16," he said.
The president also called for the development of the second stage of long-term reforms, saying he intends to submit it in early 2014.
Yanukovych also promised to open a hotline that citizens and businessmen can use to report corruption in the authorities next year. "We need to declare a war on corruption. We will meet to discuss this issue after the New Year holidays," he said.