"Today in Ukraine there are two important issues," noted Mykola Milinchuk. – First, the socio-economic situation, under which the growth rates of the national gross product are constantly declining (according to experts' forecasts, this year it will be 2%). Second, the political situation. The resignation of the current government is not equivalent to the resignations of previous governments. This resignation split society. Part of the citizens are supporters of Yulia Tymoshenko, the other – of Yushchenko. This step of the state and political parties stems from the need to stabilize the situation."
Mykola Danylovych drew attention to one point of the Declaration, namely: "We emphasize that the priority in the activities of heads of state authorities and politicians must become ensuring the interests of the Ukrainian people, the growth of their well-being, social harmony, authority and respect for Ukraine in the world." "Why should anyone oppose this? – he posed a rhetorical question. – Doubts undoubtedly exist. Quite a few similar documents were adopted in the past and many were not implemented. But this is not a foregone conclusion and everything depends on those who signed the Declaration. The Socialist Party proceeded from these considerations."
"This document sets out all the principles so that society does not split. In addition, it means that during the election period parties should not engage in their own PR, but work for the sake of Ukraine," Anatoliy Bubenshchykov is convinced.
The signing of the Declaration by the Party of Regions did not come as a surprise to the regional branch, since, according to Anatoliy Horbatiuk, "the party has always taken a pragmatic approach to building the state" and is responsible for pre-election promises to the people. "Today we are ready for cooperation with all political forces that have signed the Declaration," emphasized Anatoliy Vasyliovych, explaining this by the need to overcome corruption, political persecution and repression, and to carry out political reform.
"Under Kuchma many declarations were signed, but the result was zero. This declaration does not have the necessary weight, many fine words, but it will not solve important problems. This is a declaration, not an agreement," Ivan Tkachuk explained the absence of a signature from the All-Ukrainian Union "Batkivshchyna".
Many citizens were surprised by the fact that among the non-signatories is the Party "Reforms and Order" ("Our Ukraine"). As Nataliia Burko explained to journalists, the absence of a signature is not due to the date of adoption of the Declaration – September 13. The reason is that "the document is absolutely vague, it does not contain specified concrete steps and it does not provide for responsibility for its implementation." Nataliia Antonivna added that "signatures do not obligate anything, except, of course, the state leadership…", that the Declaration will not lead to anything negative, but the signatures affixed do not mean that the signatories will implement it. "When a person goes into politics, it means that they bear responsibility for the fate of Ukrainians. To sign under this once again – there is no need," Ms. Nataliia is convinced.
The reason for the situation that has developed around the Declaration, in Mykhailo Nakhod's opinion, lies in the lack of political culture, since, according to him, in the West a declaration is equated with an agreement and its signing means responsibility as well. At the same time, he is convinced that "the Declaration indeed lacks specifics, its points are poorly elaborated." Since declarations are often and heavily speculated upon, all points and time frames for their implementation need to be clearly spelled out.
Declaration of Unity and Cooperation for the Sake of Ukraine's Future
We – President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V. Lytvyn, Acting Prime Minister of Ukraine Yu. Yekhanurov, authorized representatives of deputy factions (groups) in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and political parties,
understanding that for objective and subjective reasons the situation in the state does not meet high public expectations, being concerned by such trends as political instability, largely through the generation of splits, centrifugal phenomena, confrontation and conflicts, socio-economic difficulties, an unsettled moral and psychological climate in society, aware of our responsibility before the Ukrainian people, caring about Ukraine's future, note the need to unite efforts for the sake of building a democratic, legal, social state and achieving national consensus of all political forces.
We are convinced that the citizens of Ukraine want to live in a just and prosperous state governed by a coordinated, honest and professional authority.
Achieving this goal requires understanding and solidarity from all branches of state power and political forces. The efforts of all who sincerely strive for good for Ukraine, the achievement of high European standards of life for ordinary people, confidence in the future, must be consolidated.
We emphasize that the priority in the activities of heads of state authorities and politicians must become ensuring the interests of the Ukrainian people, the growth of their well-being, social harmony, authority and respect for Ukraine in the world.
We confirm our commitment to democratic values and declare the harmonization of understanding of the basic principles and our actions in the socio-political sphere:
orientation of society and the state toward universal human values – freedom, democracy, interethnic and interconfessional harmony, mutual respect and tolerance, justice and goodness;
ensuring the rights of the opposition, a tolerant attitude toward the diversity of opinions and views in society, the inadmissibility of political persecution and the use of power to pressure political opponents;
real ensuring of the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, the establishment of a full-fledged civil society, the establishment of dialogue between society and the authorities;
practical implementation of political reform in accordance with the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine;
guaranteeing in practice the rule of law, personal security and the security of the family, compliance with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary;
practical separation of business from power, prevention of the use of positions in state authorities to satisfy private or corporate interests;
eradication of corruption and bribery at all levels, enhancing the role of the public in overcoming these shameful phenomena;
adherence to the principles of professionalism and high moral and ethical norms in the state's personnel policy, prevention of mutual struggle within the authorities and the predominance of party affiliation in the selection of personnel;
protection of freedom of speech, prevention of monopolization of the mass media, promotion of the formation of public radio and television;
holding democratic, free and fair elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and local self-government bodies, creating equal conditions for political parties and blocs in conducting pre-election campaigning.
We express our common will to take steps for the steady improvement of the well-being of fellow citizens and the sustainable development of the national economy:
formation of the State Budget of Ukraine as a budget of sustainable development and raising social standards of people's lives;
ensuring a favorable business environment in the country, reducing the tax burden, simplifying administrative procedures, eliminating bureaucratic obstacles, protecting property rights, introducing effective methods of combating economic crime and clannishness;
steadfast ensuring of property guarantees, streamlining privatization processes, preventing unjustified alienation of property and assets in the interests of or to please other persons or financial-industrial groups;
creating conditions for increasing domestic and foreign investment, protecting the national producer and consumer, reviewing domestic legislation for this purpose;
preservation, rational use and reproduction of natural and social resources;
reducing unemployment by stimulating productive employment and creating new jobs in all sectors of the economy;
supporting private initiative, developing small and medium-sized entrepreneurship;
taking real steps to overcome poverty, achieving well-being by each person through their own efforts, tangible and guaranteed state support for socially vulnerable segments of the population;
reforming housing and communal services and developing and implementing a program to provide citizens with housing;
designating 2006-2010 as the five-year period of priority development of the Ukrainian village on a guaranteed financial, material, technical and legal basis, including for the purpose of preserving the traditional way of life, spiritual and cultural values of Ukraine;
adopting, signing and unconditionally complying with laws intended to regulate the status of the highest state bodies, optimize the balance of powers between them, in particular the Laws of Ukraine "On the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine", "On the President of Ukraine", "On the State Property Fund of Ukraine";
ensuring, in accordance with the national interests of Ukraine, the progressive European integration course of Ukraine, accession to the World Trade Organization and Ukraine's active participation in the creation of a free trade zone within the framework of the Single Economic Space.
In order to develop a holistic nationwide vision of Ukraine's development, its present and future, discussion of strategic problems of social progress, ensuring the genuine participation and influence of the public on the formation and implementation of national policy, openness and transparency of authorities, we will convene a National Round Table with the participation of representatives of political forces, trade unions and the public, the scientific and creative elite.
We support the initiative of the President of Ukraine to create an All-Ukrainian Political Council, which will be a consultative and advisory body under the President of Ukraine on issues of harmonious development of Ukraine.
Proceeding from the awareness by all political forces of responsibility before the Ukrainian people, we call for the unification of efforts for the sake of Ukraine's future, understanding and close cooperation of all branches of power, consolidation of Ukrainian society.
President of Ukraine
Viktor Yushchenko
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Volodymyr Lytvyn
Acting
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yurii Yekhanurov
From the faction of the party "People's Union Our Ukraine" – Mykola Martynenko
From the faction of the People's Party – Ihor Yeremieiev
From the faction of the Socialist Party of Ukraine – Oleksandr Moroz
From the faction of the Ukrainian People's Party – Yurii Kostenko
From the faction of the People's Movement of Ukraine – Viacheslav Koval
From the faction of the party "Forward, Ukraine!" – Ihor Sharov
From the faction of the People's Democratic Party and the political party "Labor Ukraine" – Valerii Pustovoitenko
From the faction of the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – Stanislav Dovhyi
From the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – Anatoliy Kinakh
From non-factional deputies – Volodymyr Zaplatynskyi
From the faction of the party "Regions of Ukraine" – Raisa Bohatyriova