"Ukraine has developed a unique opportunity for successful systemic reforms today to modernize the country," said President Viktor Yanukovych at the meeting of the Regional Committee on Economic Reforms in Rivne, according to the presidential press office.
He said that in the previous years of our independence the central government was too unconsolidated and engaged in "clarification of political relations”, rather than operating as a single mechanism. During the last five years, Viktor Yanukovych said, the rule of law was substituted with political expediency, which has almost destroyed the chain of power.
Viktor Yanukovych stressed that "populism of the last five years must be made history”.
According to him, the first steps in this direction should be the reform of permit system, and judicial reform, the first part of which should be completed by the end of this year.
Another important issue the President called the reform of criminal justice, which is to become a logical continuation of the judicial reform.
"We must bring our criminal justice system in line with European standards," Viktor Yanukovych said, adding that experts are now studying the experience of different foreign countries on the subject.
Today, he said, Ukraine needs the rule of law restored, and "clear internal policy” realized, which should be based on laws that are equal for all.
"We should respect each other, respect our country," summed Viktor Yanukovych.
