If we can find other professionals like him in Donetsk, we will support them

People’s Deputy Nestor Shufrych, of the United Social Democrats’ faction, belongs with that small group of lawmakers where media people are sure to receive answers to any questions. This time The Day asked Mr. Shufrych for an interview after the United Social Democrats had made it clear at the parliament that they wanted him as Vice Speaker. Mr. Shufrych showed little enthusiasm in discussing the possibility of taking the important post, but the interview below touched on other pressing issues.

Our Ukraine’s next convention in Sumy once again faced resistance from local authorities, according to its participants. Don’t you think that the opposition and the regime have been deliberately provoking each other of late, thus getting the situation deadlocked?

Shufrych: I don’t see the regime or the entire opposition present in this confrontation. The Socialist and Communist leaders campaigning in the eastern, northern, and southern territories of Ukraine confront no such problems. And they are part of the opposition and running in the presidential race. Likewise, it’s not worth speculating on the ongoing confrontation between Our Ukraine and the regime. Our Ukraine has objectively made a mistake in establishing its ideology, which is not and cannot be accepted in the east of Ukraine. Viktor Yushchenko was accompanied by Ukrainian Nationalist Congress and UNA- UNSO people on his trip to Donetsk. What other reception could he have expected? We all remember the kind of welcome accorded Petro Symonenko and Oleksandr Moroz in Lviv. Leonid Kuchma, when running for president, had to communicate with the Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk electorates under far worse conditions than Viktor Yushchenko does now. In fact, Mr. Yushchenko has every opportunity to conduct a dialog with people. Indeed, some refuse to see or accept his ideas somewhere, but that’s something his imagemakers should be blamed for. If you want to become President of Ukraine, you mustn’t divide it into friendly and hostile electorates, into “big” and “small” Ukrainians. In this case we can discuss political struggle, but not confrontation between the regime and Our Ukraine. There is no such confrontation. Moreover, the regime appears to be actively assisting Our Ukraine activists with their travels in the east of Ukraine. No one wants violent conflicts that may have tragic consequences. God forbid! By the way, Viktor Yushchenko is the only presidential candidate with bodyguards over and above his ex officio status.

Our Ukraine appears prepared to fight to the last man to have its demands dealt with by the parliament. How do you think this problem could be resolved?

Shufrych: I can only hope that the majority will be as determined and principled as Our Ukraine. There is something to be considered, namely that the Socialists, Tymoshenko people, and the Communists are simply acting in keeping with previous arrangements. It’s not their game and besieging the VR podium doesn’t serve their interests. As for Viktor Yushchenko’s mournful demands that he see some ministers about his being personally insulted, well, one must act like a real man. Instead of complaining, one must learn to act under conditions known as political struggle. No one has hurt Yushchenko. On the contrary, the militia has protected him and all the other Our Ukraine activists from the [easily] predictable reaction on the part of the residents of Donetsk and Sumy. Therefore, he and the other gentlemen should not blame the power structurs ministers.

How much water do you think the VR dissolution scenario holds, now that the possibility is being actively discussed by the media?

Shufrych: It’s absolutely unrealistic. We are working and no one in the parliament and among the citizenry should make the mistake of thinking otherwise. Of course, it’s bad that parliament has to work in this mode, for we’re losing much. Work, however, continues. Last Tuesday, for example, we had the Government Day [i.e., when the cabinet delivers a progress report in parliament]. Our Ukraine is to blame for our being unable to pass resolutions now.

One of the major issues being suspended at Verkhovna Rada is voting on First Vice Speaker Hennady Vasyliev as Prosecutor General of Ukraine. When do you think the vote will take place?

Shufrych: Vasyliev’s candidacy has been formally discussed and I think that the lawmakers will vote on his appointment first thing after the parliament resumes normal plenary work. I hope this will happen on Tuesday, November 18. I am convinced that Hennady Vasyliev will become Prosecutor General.

As a United Social Democrat, aren’t you worried about Hennady Vasyliev’s Donetsk background?

Shufrych: We know him as a true professional, a decent individual for whom the law comes first. If we can find other professionals like him in Donetsk, we’ll do our best to support them.

Is there an arrangement between the majority and the Communists, whereby the latter are to support Hennady Vasyliev’s candidacy as Prosecutor General and the majority, in turn, is to back the Communist Adam Martyniuk as Vice Speaker to fill the vacancy?

Shufrych: The parliamentary majority is fully capable of electing the Prosecutor General. Among other things, this is evidenced by the vote on the budget bill in the first reading. As for a Communist taking the First Vice Speaker’s seat, we believe it’s a good idea. We the United Social Democrats support it and I hope that it will be met with understanding among the majority.

Don’t you think that naming Adam Martyniuk as First Vice Speaker will indicate the emergence of a coalition of sorts between the majority and the Communists?

Shufrych: Coalition isn’t likely to become an issue to be discussed, although it’s true that we and the Communist Party and its faction in the parliament have matters on which we have concurrent views.

Would you specify?

Shufrych: The political reform in the first place, as evidenced by 292 signatures under the bill on constitutional amendments.

How far do you think the majority will go in making arrangements with forces taking opposite ideological stands?

Shufrych: I have pointed out that it has nothing to do with coalition, only with sharing views on certain issues.

There is lobby talk about your faction planning to replace Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn.

Shufrych: We support Volodymyr Lytvyn as the parliament speaker and take no part in any insinuations and speculations with regard to his post.

The fact remains that the VR Presidium was elected by a package vote. Assuming that two members, First Vice Speaker Hennady Vasyliev and Vice Speaker Oleksandr Zinchenko, are replaced — as has been declared by your faction — it stands to logic to consider the possibility of replacing the Speaker.

Shufrych: Indeed, it was a package vote, but three different resolutions were passed, so that recalling one or two members of the presidium does not in any way imply replacing the third one.

How about the chairmen of the VR committees?

Shufrych: There is an interesting aspect. In June 2002, the parliamentary majority agreed to surrender the absolute majority of committee chairmanships to the opposition in return for the three key positions at the presidium. The United Social Democrats gave up at least two, maybe three such committees, in return for having their man as Vice Speaker. Should our decision to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko fail to find support in the VR auditorium, considering that the man is no longer a member of our faction, the sole implication would be that the June arrangements, concerning the allocation of key VR posts, have been graded; that they should be considered transgressed, in which case Verkhovna Rada and separate factions would be within their right to act at their sole discretion. Let me remind you that turning the committees over to the opposition, after voting on the reallocation of committee chairmen for the majority’s benefit in December, was the result of persistent efforts on the part of Viktor Yushchenko, Oleksandr Moroz, Petro Symonenko, and Yulia Tymoshenko, in keeping with the arrangements made in June.

SDPU(O) parliamentary leader Leonid Kravchuk says they want you to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko. Why?

Shufrych: I’d rather not comment on this for ethical reasons, if you don’t mind. I’ve always carried out all assignments given me by the party and by the faction; I am always keenly aware of my personal responsibility when carrying out such tasks.

Talk about the majority’s single presidential candidate has long left analysts and politicians dry- mouthed, let alone the proverbial man in the street. Why haven’t you made any headway there?

Shufrych: I think that a single candidate should be determined in February the earliest and in March 2003 the latest. We are faced with making an extremely responsible choice. Until that time each of the current candidates will have to prove that he is potentially prepared to become President of Ukraine and assume full responsibility for everything happening in Ukraine.

Some analysts insist that your party people are urging Leonid Kuchma to run for the third term.

Shufrych: Let’s discuss this subject after the Constitutional Court rules on the possibility for the current President to run for the third term.

People’s Deputy Oleksandr Volkov recently suggested that getting the current President elected for the third term would benefit our society, primarily with regard to stability. What do you think?

Shufrych: We must not be deaf and blind to what is happening around us. We can’t but note the presence of political stability, save for separate confrontations. There are obvious positive changes in the economy. The state budget annually averages tens of billions of hryvnias’ worth of increment; GDP growth amounts to 6-8% every year. These are among Europe’s best economic indices. Perhaps not as fast as we’d want, but the domestic situation is certainly improving.

In other words, should the Constitutional Court pass a ruling allowing Leonid Kuchma to run for the third term, and should the current President decide to do so, the United Social Democrats would find no cause to deny him their support. Wouldn’t they?

Shufrych: Our party has passed no such resolution, but I personally believe that Leonid Kuchma, as Head of State, has coped with his task [effectively], and that he is the true President of Ukraine.