President Viktor Yanukovych held a meeting with Prime Minister Azarov to talk about improving the Cabinet of Ministers’ structure. At the beginning of the meeting the Head of state congratulated Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on signing of an agreement about Verkhovna Rada majority on October 4. “It actually proves that the government will keep on collaborating with parliament,” the Head of state said. The President promised to back this process in the future as well.
Viktor Yanukovych expressed confidence that effective cooperation between the Cabinet of Ministers and Verkhovna Rada is critical to timely approval of laws and helps direct a governmental policy to solving the issues set forth in its action program. “It is very important. I will always support this process. You can count on it,” V.Yanukovych said.
By the end of the week the President expects the Prime Minister’s proposals on improving the Cabinet of Ministers’ structure under the current Constitution.
The Head of state stressed that these proposals should be prepared in the line with forthcoming administrative reform and cutback in deputy positions.
The President noted that the local governments will undergo changes owing to reduction in licensing system, which presently creates not only inflated staff, but also corruption.
“Business should be freed from excess pressure. This will only benefit the state. Fighting corruption first of all means keeping the public officer’s hands away from licensing. We with you know well how it hinders the country’s development,” V. Yanukovych said.
“I would like you to work with the regional state administrations and improve the axis of power. This axis should be in par with the structure of the executive power as a whole,” the Head of state marked. The President highlighted that the Cabinet of Ministers’ functions will change but they should not get weaker. “These functions should become more clear-cut. This is the chief goal,” V.Yanukovych underlined.
The President paid special attention to social aspects of the improvement of the axis of power. “As a result of reduction we will release funds. These funds will be appropriated only for social needs,” the President of Ukraine said. According to V.Yanukovych, the matter particularly concerns ensuring timely payment of salaries, maintaining projected tendency to the increase of salaries and pensions.
On his part, the Prime Minister said: “The government’s goal is to implement the President’s Action Program.” M. Azarov underlined that the main thing for the Cabinet of Ministers is to improve the efficiency of its work for the benefit of the people. “We will do this job. On Monday we will submit for the President’s consideration our proposals on the changes to be carried out in the context of new realities,” the Prime Minister assured the Head of state.
