INTERVIEW EXCERPTS: Kuchma comments on presidential elections (07/18/99)

INTERVIEW EXCERPTS: Kuchma comments on presidential elections

Following are excerpts, provided by the RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report, from an interview with President Leonid Kuchma conducted by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on June 22:

Q: How do you assess your chances in the presidential elections?

A: I am convinced of my victory. That is why I am running. In the current situation a change of political course would be fatal for Ukraine. I see my duty as continuing what I began in 1994. There is simply no other way for Ukraine. This is the main motive behind my struggle for the presidential post.

Q: It is no secret that the overwhelming majority of media in Ukraine have been unofficially made inaccessible to other presidential candidates. What is your comment?

A: We have more than 8,000 print media in Ukraine. And more than 1,000 television companies. All of them are private or, one can say, non-state media. It is no secret to anybody than many of [my rivals in the presidential race] have their own private media. The president has no such media. If one looks closer at the media, one will see at once who possesses this or that newspaper or this or that channel. Thus, I absolutely disagree [with your opinion].

Q: What were your main achievements during your presidential term?

A: Let us recall the year 1994 when inflation in the country reached 10,600 percent. Kupony [the Ukrainian currency at that time] were lying scattered on the streets, having no value at all. Production in the country came virtually to a halt. Now let us look [at the situation] today or in 1998. Our currency [the hryvnia] has been stable for several years. If it had not been for the global and Russian crises, we would have seen serious improvements in our economy.

I can also judge [on my achievements] by the trust of foreign investors who have gradually begun investing in our economy, even though not to the extent I would want. But reasons for that are understandable. All [investors] are waiting for political and legislative stability. And the main thing: they want to be sure that Ukraine's course is irreversible.

I am not going to mention privatization, though most of the national product is produced today not by state-owned but private enterprises. ...

A zone of stability has been created around the country. I have in mind such fateful treaties as those with Russia, Poland or Romania. Ukraine today is known in the world; its opinion is taken into account to some extent. ...

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