“I reject the formula of the little Ukrainian”

The Day: What do you see as the new cabinet’s guidelines?

A. K.: We should not point an accusing finger at the previous cabinet and say that we are correcting its mistakes. This will get us nowhere. We should work to develop all the positive aspects, everything accomplished by all previous governments. And yes, we must the correct mistakes and see that they are not repeated. I have received no ultimatums from anyone during the talks. We have concentrated on ways to secure cooperation between the parliament and cabinet. I really appreciate the high level of the discussions. Here the problem is not personality, but the formation of a really effective executive branch. We must constantly have a dialogue between the branches of government, not only when a decision has to be made quickly. The parliamentary intellect must be utilized constantly, not from time to time.

The Day:Would you reveal the members of your new cabinet?

A. K.: This would be improper at the moment. We must set ourselves a complex task and then put together a team accordingly. But before we do, we must balance the factions’ interests. Only then can we look for people to take specific posts.

The Day:Can anyone in the old cabinet count on retaining office?

A. K.: I don’t think we’ll need to stage a deep cadre revolution. All showing enough professionalism and knowledgeable about the laws of the market have a chance to keep their posts, but we’ll know exactly after talks with the factions.

The Day:What do you think was positive and negative about Yushchenko’s cabinet?

A. K.: The previous government did a lot to achieve macroeconomic stability and steer a middle course in dealing with foreign creditors. All this is positive. They tried to solve problems without resorting to promising pie in the sky but proceeding from the realities. This can be accomplished only by carefully estimating the results and consequences of every such decision, and the general condition of the economy. The cabinet lost feedback in terms of effective cooperation, and this led to the deepening of the political crisis. I am convinced that politics must be formed relying on the intellect of parliament and the rest of the nation, and of course on knowing everything actually happening in the economy. We had a unique economic and political situation at the start of 2000. We won in the elections, exports were growing, and we could carry out tax reform. The Russian Federation did just that, and it is our number one rival on the world market. Today, we have no time to hold back these processes. We had to work more at the microeconomic level, rather than rely on administrative mechanisms.

We will certainly try to strengthen the hryvnia, but this should be the result of not only manipulations on the currency market and certain budget approaches, but also of the actual condition of the economy.

The Day: What color will the next cabinet be? Will it include Reds, Greens, gray cardinals, and so on?

A. K.: It will be transparent.

The Day: How do you see the average Ukrainian?

A. K.: I absolutely disagree with the formula of the little Ukrainian. It is fallacious, mildly speaking. I prefer the ancient philosophers who described man as a small cosmos, unique and beyond being understood. I would very much like the Ukrainian citizenry to consist of self-sufficient individuals capable of finding their bearings in this complex world and defending their principles, their state, and their nation. God has not spared His grace on us.

COMMENTARIES

Roman BEZSMERTNY, presidential representative in Verkhovna Rada:

Analysis of the current process makes two conclusions possible: (a) they want to solve the problem quickly and positively, or (b) they want it solved quickly, but many times and negatively. In the latter case there is a higher likelihood of an acting premier. It is hard to make any other predictions under the circumstances, because the situation in the Verkhovna Rada hall changes by the hour, as evidenced by votes, especially on political issues. As a political figure Kinakh has his own team, including serious analysts and serious structures backed by very serious financial circles. Kinakh is consistent and persistent, and businesslike... I think that personal merits play the least important role in the current situation, when it comes to distributing ministerial portfolios. Here the political alignment of forces comes first, the chance to agree, and such.

Serhiy TYHYPKO, Trudova Ukrayina (Labor Ukraine):

Kinakh’s strong points are his considerable experience and understanding of the cabinet machine. Yet he represents a small fraction, so everything will depend on how he can come to terms with the others. At times he lacks openness and warmth. The impression is that he is somewhat restrained, and this always tells on one’s performance.

Oleksandr VOLKOV, Democratic Union:

The president has made a perfectly correct choice under the circumstances. Kinakh is a figure imposing enough to head the cabinet; he has been there as vice and first vice premier. But his greatest asset is the two-year experience at the head of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Most importantly, he has finally learned the Ukrainian language.