First steps and programs of the new government

– Volodymyr Nalkovych, what did you feel when you officially heard your surname in the Verkhovna Rada hall as the head of the regional state administration and walked to the "governors' box"?

– I felt two things. First, the support of colleagues from the bloc who received such a decision by the President with sincere joy, and who supported me in difficult moments when we were only heading toward a common victory. I am very grateful to them purely on a human level. Second, I felt the great responsibility that I am taking upon myself in connection with this appointment. But I clearly understood what responsibility I had taken upon myself much earlier, supporting Viktor Yushchenko, when I was persuading, like my associates, people in Volyn to vote for his program, for his team. And therefore I decided that I cannot stand aside from the implementation of this program, cannot stand aside from those practical steps that Yushchenko's team is taking, bringing to life what was promised to the people.

– What are you already doing in the first days after the appointment?

– I am dealing with two issues already as the head of the regional state administration: first, it is personnel selection, personnel policy in general; second, it is the formation of the main directions of the region's development for the near future. Both the one and the other issue require certain time, approaches, and ultimately an awareness of one's own role in this situation, what and how should best be done.

– How do you see your role, the activity of the new regional state administration in light of the unusual government program of Yulia Tymoshenko, with such sections as "Faith," "Justice," "Life," "Harmony"?

– The very names of these sections of the government program were unusual for the government under which we lived – it was not based on faith, nor on justice, and did not try to find harmony between itself and the people of Ukraine. And it did not even value human life itself. For me, these are not just life categories. First of all, I want to say that in Volyn there will be no persecution of any of the confessions. As for justice, it is primarily the provision of decent pensions and the resolution of social issues. For me, the government program is a program for raising the quality indicators of life. We must approach Central European living standards. I think that the figures that "support" this government program will be announced in the near future; we will see them already in the new edition of the 2005 budget. In Volyn, everything will be done to implement Yushchenko's program "Ten Steps Toward the People." It, like the government program, is the foundation of our work.

– In the President's speech and Yulia Tymoshenko's report, it was emphasized that the effectiveness of regional state administrations will be evaluated by the ability to create new jobs and implement in the region several programs important for this region. Do you already have some outlines regarding this? What can be implemented in the region, serve the region?

– We will develop several directions that are vitally necessary for the region. Accordingly, specific programs will be divided among them. The first direction is the development of the village, the introduction of a fundamentally new agrarian policy. Measures will be developed to support those forms of ownership that exist in the village, not excluding any of them, but also not giving preference to any. People themselves must be able to manage, but also feel that the authorities are helping them, not hindering them. This will be an important and broad block of our work.

The second block is work with small and medium-sized business. We will develop programs that maximally simplify the schemes of state interference in this business. The influence of officials on the development of this business must be minimal. I will do everything to limit it as much as possible. A program of sanation, that is, revitalization, support for existing taxpayers, will be implemented. For this we will conduct an analysis of activity, monitoring of each economic structure, each enterprise. And with each enterprise that pays taxes, we will establish directions of work. In addition, we will divide enterprises into categories. And to each we will offer conditions of support if the enterprise or entrepreneur honestly pays taxes. Under such conditions there will be no arm-twisting, no extortions, no constant inspections that were the norm for previous governments. I think that in the future we will form an effective tax policy.

I will repeat Viktor Andriyovych's words – we extend a hand to business, to entrepreneurs, but we do not want this hand to hang in the air. With those who prefer a shadow way of life, we will act quite firmly. If we implement this program, it will allow us to solve the problem of employment of the population, because business will create new jobs, the budget will be filled, and consequently the economic situation will revive and the investment attractiveness of our region will grow.

Finally, the third direction, which I would call concisely – the border. I consider the situation at the border catastrophic. We must seriously take up customs, resolve the issue of border throughput capacity. We need to increase the number of crossings. It is precisely through the implementation of this program that we plan to attract additional investments for the region. Actually, the program of attracting investments will be one of the priority directions of work. There are plans to create enterprises on the basis of attracted foreign capital. And this also means new jobs.

– So, a bet on new foreign investments?

– These must be both external and internal investments. Attracting foreign capital, creating attractive conditions for it, will be combined with the development of our own small and medium-sized business – these are two priorities.

– Volodymyr Nalkovych, it is known that many Volyn residents work abroad. It so happened that before this interview I had to talk by phone with two acquaintances from different districts of the region. Both have the same problem. People have saved a certain sum of money to build housing after returning. And now they ask: "What is going on there with you? A brick last year was 90 kopecks, later – one hryvnia twenty, and now – one and a half hryvnias apiece." It seems this is another problem?

– You know, demand creates supply. I do not think that the state administration should have direct levers of influence on the formation of price policy, including on construction materials. But I am convinced that prices for bricks cannot rise endlessly. Analysis shows that a construction boom awaits us, but the trend of rising housing prices will grow to a certain limit. We foresee that afterward there will be a rollback and even a decrease in the price of construction materials. Therefore, to people who are currently abroad, I would advise this: the raising of standards in Ukraine testifies that this state has prospects; investing money in real estate in Ukraine is effective. And the sooner people do this, the greater dividends they will receive. In addition, there is a desire to introduce new technologies mastered abroad. We will support such people.

– Many of our readers are interested in the formation of personnel of district state administrations. Will there be enough new people for them? They even say that personnel from Lutsk will be sent to the districts?

– We will apply various schemes, but these will be first of all professionals and people who did not make decisions that compromise them today. In one or two days we will not find highly qualified professionals. I am aware that we are not insured against mistakes, and personnel may change. There is no problem with personnel. There is a problem with the ability of these people who will come to leadership at the district level to change the situation.

– That is, it is also about replacing all heads of district state administrations?

– Unfortunately, analysis shows that all heads of these administrations are involved in violating laws, especially during the election campaign, although among them there are good specialists and managers. To those who do not deserve criminal liability, we will offer other positions. We do not want to put anyone in a hopeless situation. But this applies only to good professionals.

– And what about the members of the People's Agrarian Party who were "built into" the previous system, and now again seemingly claim a certain "quota"? And what about those parties that were part of "Our Ukraine" and also have their own proposals and claims?

– I generally do not care which party's card a person has. Quotas for parties ended at the level of the Cabinet of Ministers, and even there they were only agreements. I immediately dismiss the question of quotas, of someone's relations with someone influential. There will be no fourth or sixth part. I will evaluate candidates from two points of view. Professionalism and relations with the law. If parties can propose candidates, we will consider them, but not by quota, but as a certain specific person. Although there are few positions and many willing.

– When will the first appointments be?

– I think in the coming days. My presentation as head of the regional state administration will take place, and I will present my team.

– But various candidates are already being named, and Mr. Shyba has been appointed first deputy?

– Bohdan Shyba has been entrusted with performing the duties of first deputy. As for the others – name the surnames...

– For the positions of deputies they name Banada, Karpuk, Pasaman, Turak, Malynovsky, Potapchuk...

– Yes, all these candidates were considered. And several more. They have real opportunities to take the positions of deputy head, other positions. But the number of deputies will be reduced, and in general the structure of the regional state administration will be changed. And we talked about candidates at the last meeting of the regional branch of the Committee of National Salvation.

– It is known that on Monday you met with the old composition of the regional state administration, and rumors spread that someone might be left?

– I did not meet with everyone, but with some – yes. Unfortunately, I once again became convinced that these are people whose vision and views are of yesterday. They disappointed me even more.

– They say that some heads of departments have already prepared letters from the "progressive public" with a request to keep them...

– Let them prepare (smiles). They will see what comes of it.

– What specific innovations can the new government in Volyn surprise with?

– We have prepared "Strategic Directions for the Development of the Region for the Coming Year," which we will first present to the President, and then in the region as well.

– Your predecessor, Mr. Frantsuz, "became famous" for the fact that in two and a half years he did not give a single press conference and generally tried to avoid contacts with the press. How will it be now?

– I always tried to be a public person, answered all the questions that were asked. I do not intend to change approaches in the new position either. I will be maximally sincere, honest and frank with the press, so that people understand the logic of the actions of this government. The rule will be meetings of mine, of deputies, of heads of departments, of district leaders with journalists. I want to make the district press more independent as well. I am ready for honest, constructive, but, I emphasize, not behind-the-scenes, but open cooperation with the press.

– We wish you success and the realization of your plans.

– Thank you.

The interview was conducted by Volodymyr LYS