BBC: Will you please precise what you meant defining Ukrainian economy as the most desired one.
Victor Yushchenko: You know the potential of Ukraine, for instance industrial one…the country constructing missiles, all types of vessels, aircrafts, spacecrafts…country-leader in steel making industry on the continent…We have very important engineering sector. It can be hardly characterized as a sort of ordinary economy. Ukraine has 40% of fertile lands of the world, and what is more important – one of the most educated nations of Europe. And it often occurs to me that God endowed Ukraine with these resources.
BBC: And you probably want to share these resources with Europe, as you have reported that Ukraine to apply for EU entry in the near future. Why are you in such a hurry to do this?
Victor Yushchenko: I am familiar with Europe and European customs where nothing goes fast. So Eurointegration is a long way to pass. I want my nation to spare no day on this way. We should have been through it fairly and openly. We want to be a burden to nobody, yet we demand what we deserve. I am convinced that Europe will lack Ukraine.
BBC: Do you think that Brussels shares this idea? Do you have any evidence that the EU is determined to accelerate the entry procedure for you?
Victor Yushchenko: I have never seen a politician saying that one’s country is against such an initiative. Still I understand how it is difficult to tell such things in public. So we welcome the 13 January resolution by the European Parliament suggesting the European Union to form a new strategy towards Ukraine, including the issue of our membership in the EU.
BBC: You will have to bring order to economy and eliminate corruption. How are you going to do it?
Victor Yushchenko: We are determined to use all experience and knowledge of our partners to build Ukraine. We are striving for building an open country to encourage innovations, to tackle corruption, to bring the economy out of the shadow, to guarantee the supremacy of law and freedom of expression. We know how to cope with these problems. We did it in 2000 and my government is considered one of the most efficient till present. This is not an easy matter yet not fatal. We will hold down a task since we have a great political will to do it.
BBC: You have mentioned a political will…your victory is considered to have divided Ukrainian society. A significant number of Ukrainian citizens did not vote for you. How are you going to engage these people into the fight against corruption, the process of joining the EU and other plans?
Victor Yushchenko: This was the third presidential election in Ukraine. During the previous campaigns presidential contenders never won in more than 15 Ukrainian oblasts. I was supported by 17 oblasts. If Ukraine was not divided in 1994 or 1999 with those election results, you may be sure this issue will never emerge with present election results. Believe me, there is no natural reason for dividing Ukraine. This is a marked card used by political failures.
BBC: Speaking about your relationship with Russia – sometimes there is an impression that hurrying to the West, the European Union, you neglect your neighbor in the East?
Victor Yushchenko: We should be friends with Russia. It is our neighbor, eternal strategic partner; this is an area of our strategic interests. I am convinced that Ukraine is an area of Russia’s strategic interests. This is a kind of relations based on special principles that are to be respected, to be fair and consistent; and I will pursue such a policy towards Russia. And the thing I would like to stress on is that European integration is not an alternative to good-neighborly relations with Russia. Both in the East and West there are Ukrainian interests. We want to assert these interests at the level of our strategic partners – Europe and Russia. This is an obvious, clear and honest position. We do not speak about the “either…or” policy, yet we speak about “both …and…” policy.
BBC: And finally, Mr Yushchenko, during your campaign someone was so opposed to you that dared to poison you. How are you now? Are you strong enough to put in practice everything you wish? And did everything that happened to you enable you to revise political situation in Ukraine?
Victor Yushchenko: I believe I found a brilliant way out of the situation about my poisoning. I was exposed to a high dose of poison and I know that most people in this situation just die. But due to my strong constitution I survived and I am not in a wheel chair. I make a quick recovery, though I, as well as 47 million Ukrainians, cannot get used to the face I have now. Still everything will be all right soon. I understand there was an attempt on Ukrainian democracy. Authorities tried to usurp power. I am happy that m colleagues and me passed this test. We won the election. I have no regrets. We have raised our nation and it is proud of being Ukrainian one. I see it is stylish to be Ukrainian. Thousands of people on squares breathe freely. So many people are crying being happy for what Ukraine had achieved! So if I pay for this progress with my health, I am ready to endure it.
BBC: Mr Yushchenko, thank you very much for this conversation.
