Yanukovych addresses business luncheon (12/17/06)

Yanukovych addresses business luncheon

by Matthew Dubas

NEW YORK - Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych met with business leaders at a luncheon hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding on December 6 during the Ukraine Business Forum at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

James Wolfensohn, president of the BCIU and former president of the World Bank, introduced Mr. Yanukovych to the gathering of approximately 170 people. Among the audience were advisors to the prime minister: Andrew Fialka, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Andriy Honcharuk, Leonid Kozhara; Anna Herman, member of Parliament; Volodymyr Khandohiy, deputy foreign minister; and Oleh Shamshur, ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.

Addressing the audience in Ukrainian, Mr. Yanukovych appeared to be struggling with the official state language as he tried to appeal to the businessmen in the room.

"Ukraine has made significant changes in the last 15 years," Mr. Yanukovych said. "The year 2006 marks the beginning of the new parliamentary Ukraine and look at its effectiveness."

There is an opportunity to work effectively and responsibly, he stated, and this new nation's government is working. "We have a responsibility to pull huge investment in Ukraine, creating the right environment with stability and increase growth not by points, but severalfold," he said.

"The stock market is beginning to grow, political and economic stability is beginning to emerge, with transparent and open policy," Mr. Yanukovych explained. "Ukraine is ready to maintain contact with the West and to encourage cooperation."

As he concluded his talk, Mr. Yanukovych took questions from the audience.

Voicing concern over protection of property rights in Ukraine, Roger Rosendahl of Kaye Scholer, LLP, a U.S.-based shareholding company that is developing a shipping container service in Odesa, questioned the prime minister on how Ukraine plans to overcome control of land from interference from "unknown" sources.

To this, Mr. Yanukovych offered this lackluster solution: "A series of laws will need to be passed to ensure adherence to land control and fair practices."

Stanley Roth of Boeing Co. asked the prime minister to increase the safety of Ukraine's air fleet so that direct flights to the U.S. are available. The prime minister said that Ukraine would be ready to work with Boeing when the time is right.

An unidentified audience member, who represents a foreign company involved in the clean-up at Chornobyl asked the prime minister about Chornobyl's mothball state, and asked how Ukraine plans to clean up nuclear waste and used fuel.

Mr. Yanukovych responded: "Mr. Boiko, the minister of fuel and energy, has given you a partial answer to that question, but Ukraine will offer fair and equal opportunities to foreign companies to assist in the clean-up. I wish your company great success."

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