“We Cannot Carry Out Reforms for the Ukrainians”

This is what the US Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer had to say last Thursday in Kyiv, addressing the faculty and students of Taras Shevchenko National University. The American ambassador thinks that now after the presidential elections and on the eve of President Leonid Kuchma’s visit to Washington, is a suitable moment to assess the relationship between the US and Ukraine.

Ambassador Pifer, speaking of the Ukrainian elections, recalled that the US administration, as well as the OSCE observers, was concerned about “certain unfortunate features of the campaign” At the same time, the diplomat pointed out that the voting and vote count were a “credible democratic process.”

Mr. Pifer thus characterized the Ukrainian-American relations: it has made great strides, but “we can achieve much more.” Mr. Pifer is confident that, to become a full- fledged member of Europe, “Ukraine has to look like Europe economically.”

Speaking about the progress in this country’s transition from a command to a market economy, the US ambassador noted, “Ukraine has not yet put in place the critical mass of reforms necessary to achieve real change and strong, sustained economic growth. Some important economic policy decisions were put on hold this year because of the election.” But now the actions of President Kuchma and the members of his new government “will do much to determine whether Ukraine continues to stagnate or moves forward on a vigorous path of genuine change.” Of course, this requires investment to promote economic revitalization, and existing investment is very low. Another problem Ambassador Pifer touched upon is administrative reform. In his words, a government that has over 85 ministries, state committees, and independent agencies plus a large Cabinet of Ministers apparatus is too big, too bloated, and too cumbersome... it costs too much, and it gets in the way of business.”

The US ambassador blamed corruption for the destruction of the Ukrainian economy, “which hurts ordinary Ukrainian citizens more than anyone else.” Mr. Pifer also said; “the people who most threaten that vision of Ukraine’s future are not those who wave Communist banners or shout anti-Western slogans. I am more worried about the oligarchs who have become comfortable under the current system.” The US ambassador noted that Ukraine’s success in achieving these goals depends first and foremost on the Ukrainians themselves. “We can help; we want to help. But we cannot do this for Ukraine.”

The US diplomat is convinced that if six months from now the opportunity Ukraine has before it has still not been taken, people will ask whether they can expect any change during the next five years. That will be a hard question to answer. It will also represent an enormous loss for the future of the Ukrainian people.”