MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) – In an interview with Belarus 1 TV channel on 13 October, former president of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko pointed to attempts to speculate about the Minsk process that aims to resolve the situation in the southeast of Ukraine, BelTA has learned.
“Some [politicians] move forward using their wisdom, others use criticism which is very often groundless. It is easier to criticize than to create,” Viktor Yushchenko said. Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine, he emphasized that there is no simple, one-component solution or scenario. The issue is complex and complicated. “Many politicians acknowledge that Minsk [peace accords] is fulfilling its task. At the same time, it should be updated,” the former Ukrainian president said.
Viktor Yushchenko noted that several military conflicts are taking place in Eastern Europe now, which could not be expected some 30 years ago. “Eastern Europe has turned into a belt of instability and destabilization. This is a geopolitical issue. I would not ask for whom the bell tolls. Today's world is so interconnected, that a disaster can be delivered across the distance of 10,000km; you don't even have to be neighbors,” he said.
The former Ukrainian president believes that the developments in Ukraine have revealed the need to be stronger and helped understand who is a friend and who is a foe. “These lessons were learned the hard way, but they are very important for the nation. We are different, but we are not opposed to each other. Therefore, the ongoing internal integration is a result of our huge consolidation efforts,” he noted.
The politician noted that Ukraine is now facing several tasks at a time that were tackled by other countries over a long historical period. “Isn't it too much for one generation to address the issues of internal and national integration, to become one family, to establish democracy, to discover and embrace freedom and democracy and at the same time to integrate into Europe? When difficulties arise, one should not conclude that we failed or lack something to achieve our goals,” Viktor Yushchenko said.
He believes that Ukraine is capable of overcoming existing problems, first of all, those in economy that should grow by 5-7% every year. “I am convinced that we will be able to mobilize,” the politician noted.
Viktor Yushchenko thinks the same way about migration from Ukraine. “Our generation is integrated into the world. It would be stupid to pretend that a visa can stop anyone. I trust the young generation of Ukrainians. This is a gifted generation,” he said. Speaking about migration, he noted that the government and local authorities should do their ‘homework' properly to address this issue. In other words, it is necessary to create economic and social conditions that would rival those in the neighboring countries that attract migrants.
Viktor Yushchenko also gave his take on corruption and crime in the country as well as the gun ownership policy.
In his words, corruption has been making headlines in the recent one or two years. It is good that the government acknowledges the issue and speaks about it. “We will handle it. I am more optimistic about it today than I was a year or a year and a half ago,” he said.
Speaking about crime and illegal trade in arms, Viktor Yushchenko said that Ukraine is trying to pass a bill articulating the domestic policy about this matter. At present there are regulations only at the ministerial level. “On the one hand, there is no ban on arms, on the other hand, there is no policy permitting them,” the politician said.
