Volodymyr KURATCHENKO: “A different doctor, closer to ... the patient, will now take over...”

“Mr. Kuratchenko, your address to the Cabinet of Ministers more resembled the program of a new premier...”

“I do not think so. The premier is a politician, the head of the executive power. I am first vice premier, an economist and industrialist, so I have the right to supply the premier with this kind of analytical report. I never set a task to oust the premier or do something against him. And I don”t care what some people may think this resembles... This was not an act of desperation. I mooted my proposals more than once. The Cabinet meeting in question was discussing how to take the economy out of the crisis and put it in the channel of transformations. So I only spoke in this context. At the same time, I came out in favor of the power engineering minister Ivan Plachkov, but I do not see here any reason for emotions or explosions.”

“Could you expect your proposals to be accepted, or did you foresee the result in advance?”

“I expected them to. And the premier indeed gave direct instructions to many ministries to study and analyze the proposals... As to the President”s decision, I cannot disobey him. He takes into account all aspects, international included. I only spoke with the President by telephone, and I hope I will know his motivations after he comes back. I see no implicit motives for this decision, and I am sure I am right. There were no “floggings” during the Cabinet session, as someone wrote. There only was an uneasy, strongly-worded and dispute-laden discussion. I am even grateful to fate that this made the government discuss such matters, although many ministers have not yet looked into them. The Minister of Economy Vasyl Rohovy — I think highly of him — said very nervously: “You”re trying to take us back to socialism,” and Serhiy Tyhypko (vice premier — Ed. ) said this was an anti- market course, and so on. So I want to explain my stand in more detail. I stick to no political platform, nor do I play into someone”s hand or have defected to some other camp. I made a diagnosis and offered my own method of treatment. If things are poor, a professor like this is debarred from treatment. This is what they did to me. Now a different doctor, closer to the... (?! — Ed. ) patient, will take over... I was not afraid of facing the winter, for it is not I who messed it up. Looking back on my lifetime, I think that there are no insoluble problems. There are people who don”t know how to do it, and there are systems that must be changed.”

“Oleksandr Moroz said you know the true causes of the oil crisis in Ukraine...”

“I know a thing or two. But the main cause is the growth of world prices. Yes, we reacted inadequately by imposing too many restrictions. When Mr. Pustovoitenko was on vacation, I looked into the matter, and many were punished. Five draft resolutions were prepared, which could have resolved all problems. Three were passed, but two other were lost somewhere. Bureaucracy will be bureaucracy. This is a fault in the performance of the government itself. You never know... I do not want to and will not interfere in the activities of law enforcement bodies. If one is guilty, take him to court... You can only express conjectures if you have conducted an investigation...”

“Will you agree to cooperate with presidential candidates other than Leonid Kuchma?”

“I held the No. 2 post in the government, I know the ropes know, and I want to stay on. I want to steer clear of big politics because I have always taken pleasure in real things, in seeing my plans implemented. You”ve nailed a few planks together, here is a stool! You wanted to modernize a factory, you did it! I am ready to work at any level I am offered, only to derive pleasure of it.”