Highlights of Pres Yushchenko’s Nov. 27 talk show declarations

November28200918:23

YUSHCHENKO REGRETS TRUSTING TYMOSHENKO

Yushchenko admitted that he had trust in Tymoshenko after the 2004 Orange revolution. He refused to explain the reasons for his present disappointment with the premier, saying “My old scars have healed.”

He said he bears no grudges against Tymoshenko. “I have a grudge as an official: we have wasted the last 2.5 years. These were empty years without reforms, he stressed.

He then said he sees no ideological difference between Yanukovych and Tymoshenko, saying the country will lose if Tymoshenko wins the election and likening Tymoshenko to a crisis – “She spells crisis,” he repeated for the umpteenth time.

Asked about Yanukovych, Yushchenko said he will lose the election. Asked about who will win, Yushchenko pointed at himself.

He disagreed with the proposal by one of the journalists to step down from the race not to inflame the situation. He waved aside the assumption by a journalist that the forthcoming election might end in a civil war, arguing the Ukrainians have become more tolerant and less aggressive. To illustrate, he recalled his 2004 trip to Donetsk when the local authorities didn’t want to let him out of the airport. By comparison, he continued, during his recent trip to Donetsk he saw portraits of Tymoshenko “on every other big board”. “I reproached Yanukovych campaign staff, saying things are not as they should be in Donets as Lytvyn’s portraits were ‘on every third big board,’ Yatseniuk’s ‘on every fifth’ while there were only a couple of my own,” the incumbent admitted.

RUSSIA SHOULD GET USED TO TREATING UKRAINIANS AS AN INEEPENDENT NATION

Stressing the need for Russia to start viewing Ukrainians as an independent nation, Yushchenko proposed to build up a dialog to clarify “the truth without which there can’t be normal relations with Russia.”

He stressed he hasn’t done or said anything to mar the relations between Ukraine and Russia. Yushchenko emphasized he would always have respect for Russia – “a great country with a great people with whom we will always be together.”

“I am convinced, the Russians will eventually come to understanding, something our relations lack today,” Yushchenko opined.

UKRAINE SHOULD CHANGE ITS GAS TRADE AND TRANSIT WITH RUSSIA

Yushchenko wants to raise the issue of transit tariffs for Russian gas at the EU summit due Dec. 4, 2009. He will push ahead for commercial rates of gas tariffs, similar to European ones.

He also opted for buying the Russian gas at Ukraine’s western border.

Yushchenko stressed the need to reform Naftohaz and have a separate contract with Russia for the transit of its gas via Ukraine. Yushchenko said in this case Ukraine could get $5 billion to modernize its pipelines.

Yushchenko has again lashed out at the gas agreements signed in early 2009 with Russia, calling them imbecile. He called as imbecile the cabinet’s policy with regard to low transit tariffs, claiming it will lead to a catastrophe.

He pledged he will never allow Tymoshenko to lead Naftohaz to bankruptcy and lose the pipelines.

I HATE POLITICS – YUSHCHENKO

Yushchenko promised to retire after his presidential tenure ends, saying it will happen in 5 years - after his second watch.

• 20:4001.12.09 Volodymyr Hrytsutenko
• • You can't be more right, Sir.
    Some three years ago I wrote an article in the ArtUkraine Report to say Yushchenko was Ukraine's biggest traitor.
    If Tymoshenko wins, Ukraine will have a chance, I'm sure.
    
• 07:0930.11.09 UkrToday
• • Ukraine regets trusting Yushchenko.
    Yushchenko has betrayed Ukraine and the so called "Orange Revolution"
    Yushchenko and his party Our Ukraine were then main catalyst for the collapse of the orange revolution
    
    Who can forget the torchousm moments follwoing March the 2006 parliamentary elections where Yulia was forces to make public pleas to Yushchenko and his party to form a orange governing coalition.
    
    Months of indecision and destabilization took its toll.
    
    Yushchenko and Our Ukraine tried to oust Yulia Tymoshenko from the leadership role and all the time negotiating with Party of Regions to try and form a coalition with the man at the top.
    
    When that failed they went after Olexandr Moroz and tried to have him replaced with Poroshenko. Three months later time was running out and Moroz was forced with no other alternative, having been betrayed by Yushchenko, to leave the coalition and agree to the formation of a alternative government.
    
    Yushchenko betrayed not just Yulia not all of Ukraine, all those who put their faith and trust in him. They wanted a fair and democratic society.
    
    Yushchenko is a failed leader and a failed president, His polices and actions have caused more harm then good.
    
    Yushchenko's support has slimmed from 52% in 2005 to below 4% today.
    
    Where once he was the toast of town and nominated for a Nobel prize, today not even the US president will meet with him when Yushchenko visited New York back in September.
    
    83% of the Ukrainian population will not vote for him. Yushchenko is unelectable. A real loser. His claim to fame now being the worlds least supported head of state.