Apropos Premier Yushchenko’ s press conference
Prime Minister Yushchenko made up his mind to have a news conference on October 5, the day following the Cabinet’s presentation of the budget bill in Parliament.
Obviously determined to adhere to the best traditions of the Soviet leadership standard, he offered an extremely optimistic view of Ukraine’s current stage, describing it as one of “economic growth and accumulation of resources.” In his own words, the Pension Fund would meet the end of the year with a surplus of UAH 300 million, which will make it possible not only to avoid further arrears on pension payments but also to raise the amount of such allowances, while carrying out an “effective pension reform.” Increased wages and salaries were also promised in the budget sphere.
In the course of the news conference the Premier showed that his rosy predictions are called forth not so much his offensive as by his defensive strategy. Once again he emphasized that Ukraine would have enough bread supplies this year (foreign news agencies agree that Ukraine’s overall grain harvest this year is the lowest since World War II). Mr. Yushchenko further declared that Ukraine’s fuel reserve, now that the cold season is near, are “above the indices of previous years” (almost instantly contradicting himself, saying that Ukraine’s coal output is 3.2 million tons, while four million tons were secured “in our best years”). Premier Yushchenko seemed to have overlooked Ukraine’s habitually empty underground natural gas storage facilities, that there was no fuel oil reserved. Instead, he enlarged on his gratitude to those taking part in the Ukrainian-Russian gas talks (still without any tangible results), stressing that none of the participants was an “older” or “younger brother” (a reference to Soviet times when Russians were officially called the “elder brother” in the fraternity of the Soviet people — Ed.).
When asked whether his Cabinet has a sufficient safety margin to sustain the avalanche of criticism it is under, Mr. Yushchenko said he was certain that it has. However, when asked about State Property Fund Head Oleksandr Bondar’s refusal to confirm the 2001 budget bill’s privatization proceeds totaling some 9 billion hryvnias, the Premier thought it best to declare that “he [i.e., Mr. Bondar] has not approved it for a number of years,” which came as evidence of rather serious differences within the Cabinet.
When asked by The Day whether his being so confident about the Cabinet’s integrity could be explained by attempts to form a pro-Cabinet majority in Parliament, as part of the existing presidential majority, maybe outside as well, the Premier’s response was visibly irate: “...such allegations can originate either from The Day or from other similar institutions.” Mr. Yushchenko told this newspaper it should not “look for the cat where you have never let it loose.” (A prophetic remark, considering that People’s Deputy Oleksandr Karpov, the current Verkhovna Rada majority coordinator, would broach the subject shortly afterward, meaning that the Premier’s remark, in an emotional response to The Day ’s question, meant simply to clarify the situation, should be addressed to Mr. Karpov). Having thus voiced his low opinion of journalists and “other such institutions,” Premier Yushchenko declared that the parliamentary majority is not a problem for the government, and that this country needs this majority simply to support the President’s economic, social, and fiscal policies. Mr. Yushchenko then lashed out at Parliament’s political majority, saying, “Let us put on its feet that majority, which today is having trouble taking shape ... We do not intend to idealize today’s political majority, but without it any process, including the one upon which this majority is relying in making its plans of prosperity, has no future.” In a word, the Premier demonstrated his profound understanding of the legislative majority’s role, although he failed to prove the absence of plans to apply some “finishing touches” on it, so as to secure support for certain Cabinet members and protect the government from the onslaught of criticism, finally to create a “consolidated nation.” As for the press, Mr. Yushchenko attempted to assure the fifth estate of his dedication to the freedom of the press, although not all could fully believe this statement, not after his irate response to a perfectly normal journalistic question.
