Ukraine Recovery Conference declaration: Partnership, reform focus, transparency

MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - The participants in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, have endorsed the Lugano Declaration outlining the following seven guiding principles of the country's recovery process (Lugano Principles): partnership, reform focus, transparency, democratic participation, multi-stakeholder engagement, gender equality and inclusion, and sustainability.

"Here in Lugano, we have launched the process of Ukraine's recovery at international level and set out the principles underpinning the recovery," President Ignazio Cassis of the Swiss Confederation said in presenting the declaration.

"The core of the Declaration are the seven Lugano Principles. They mark the beginning of a long recovery process in Ukraine. They define criteria and methods for recovery," Cassis said.

Ukrainian media quoted him as saying that the recovery process shall be led and driven by Ukraine and conducted in partnership with its international partners.

"The recovery effort has to be based on a sound and ongoing needs assessment process, aligned priorities, joint planning for results, accountability for financial flows, and effective coordination," the declaration says.

The recovery process should contribute to accelerating, deepening, broadening and achieving Ukraine's reform efforts and resilience in line with Ukraine's European path, it says.

The principle of transparency, accountability and rule of law implies that "the rule of law must be systematically strengthened and corruption eradicated. All funding for recovery needs to be fair and transparent."

The document indicates that the recovery process "has to be a whole-of-society effort, rooted in democratic participation by the population, including those displaced or returning from abroad, local self-governance and effective decentralization."

The recovery process should also "facilitate collaboration between national and international actors, including from the private sector, civil society, academia and local government."

The gender equality and inclusion principle implies that "the recovery process has to be inclusive and ensure gender equality and respect for human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights."

"Recovery needs to benefit all, and no part of society should be left behind. Disparities need to be reduced," the document says.

Finally, the recovery process "has to rebuild Ukraine in a sustainable manner aligned with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement," the declaration says.