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3 March 2015 Federation of Employers of Ukraine  

Dmitry Firtash: Either It’s A Miracle Or We Ourselves Will Save Ukraine  

Ukraine has never become an ultimately independent state as it had failed to implement all the essential reforms in the past 23 years, said Mr. Dmitry Firtash speaking at the International Forum Ukraine Tomorrow co-organized in Vienna by the FEU and the Trade Unions Federation of Ukraine. The event has triggered remarkable interest among Europeans: instead of the originally registered 250 participants, the turnout was over 500 representatives of business and political communities of Europe.
 
“23 years ago Ukraine gained its independence. However we never became ultimately independent as we failed to implement essential reforms. Today, we – the employers and trade unions – wish to present our plan for Ukraine modernization,” said Mr. Firtash.

The leader of Ukrainian employers also noted the commitment of Ukrainian academics and entrepreneurs as well as of their international partners to take an active part in the Ukrainian economy restoration and modernization. “We must review European countries’ experience and turn a careful ear to the thoughts of Ukrainian academics. We have to understand where Ukraine must be in 25 years from now, to draw up a roadmap and to move forward. We know the experience of Eastern Germany and Poland; at a time our starting conditions were comparable. Today, we see how these countries are living. One may argue that it’s a miracle. A recipe for rebuilding Ukraine is that it either will be a miracle, or we’ll make it happen by ourselves,” said Mr. Firtash.

The FEU President also informed that the Agency for Modernization of Ukraine founded on the initiative of the FEU and the Trade Unions Federation will, within 200 days, draw up a master plan of Ukraine’s development. “We have to put in place an investment fund for the comprehensive modernization of Ukraine. Ukraine is a big country and its ultimate restoration will require some 300 bn dollars. We ought to reignite trust and confidence of both domestic and international investors to make sure that business is interested in investing in Ukraine,” stressed Mr. Firtash.

The FEU President further assured the Forum attendees that the Ukrainian society is ready to accept transformations. “We must achieve results on a daily basis. Ukrainians must feel that each and every new day carries along changes for the better,” said Mr. Firtash.
  • The International Forum Ukraine Tomorrow initiated by the Federations of Employers and trade unions of Ukraine took place in Vienna
  • The event has triggered remarkable interest among Europeans: instead of the originally registered 250 participants, the turnout was over 500 representatives of business and political communities of Europe
  • Representatives of France, Germany and the UK have endorsed the proposal jointly moved forward by the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and trade unions of Ukraine to set up the Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine
  • As a result of the Ukraine Tomorrow the declaration speaking about the Agency foundation was signed by Mr. Reiner Lindner, Head of the German-Ukrainian Forum; Mr. Karl-Georg Wellmann, a Bundestag Member; Mr. Bernard-Henry Lévy, French public activist, writer and philosopher; and Lord Risby, British MP
  • Mr. Karl-Georg Wellmann, a Bundestag Member, Head of the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group
  • Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the Prime Minister of Poland in 1996-1997, Gunther Verheugen, Vice-president of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry (2004-2010), an honorary Professor at the European University Viadrina, and Kenneth Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of England and Wales (2003–2008)
  • The modernization plan will be being drafted by eight renown European politicians and business people leading various facets of Ukraine’s Euro-integration including health care, finance and taxation, economy, trade, constitutional and legal reform, anti-corruption and law enforcement
  • The first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk appealed to the participants of the Forum
  • The Modernization Program will include: the constitutional, legal and state institutions reform, integration with the European Union, combatting corruption, financial sector and state government systems improvement, economy, trade and health care modernization
  • Bernard Henri-Levy, French political journalist, philosopher and writer
  • The President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Dmitry Firtash has become one of the initiators of the Ukraine Tomorrow forum
  • The President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Dmitry Firtash noted that the Agency had been established following 9 months of the FEU’s cooperation with Ukraine’s Europe’s leading experts, scientists and business people
  • The Forum organizers are sure that not only Europeans will take part in the restoration and modernization of Ukraine’s economy, but the President of Ukraine and Verkhovna Rada deputies will support the initiative
  • As reforms start to be implemented, the Ukrainian Restoration Fund will be set up to uphold the sustainable development of the economy and infrastructure
  • The estimated amount needed for the comprehensive quality reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy totals $300 billion of investments
  • Leonid Kravchuk, the President of Ukraine (1991-1994), Mr. Karl-Georg Wellmann, a Bundestag Member, Head of the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group, Dmitry Firtash, President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, and Peer Steinbrück, the architect of the Euro protection program during the 2008 economic crisis
  • “We are looking to raise some $300 bn. What is important is that this money will be channeled into business and specific projects and we will be able to see their efficiency at once,” added Mr. Firtash
  • The dialog of the European diplomats, trade unions and employers attracted attention of media representatives from all over Europe
  • Yarema Zhuhaievych, the President of the Trade Union of Aircraft builders of Ukraine, took part in the Forum
  • The European elite considers  Ukrainian employers and trade unions as the partners for Ukraine’s economy recovery
  • Lord Risby, British MP
  • As a result of the Ukraine Tomorrow forum held in Vienna, the declaration speaking about the Agency foundation was signed
  • John Whittingdale, Member of the British Parliament said that British Prime Minister James Cameron expressed his support for the initiative of establishing an Agency for the modernization of Ukraine, which will implement needed reforms
  • The European elite considers  Ukrainian employers and trade unions as the partners for Ukraine’s economy recovery
  • The economic priorities will be under the guidance of Mme. Laurence Parisot, one of the most influential women in France and an ex-President of MEDEF (French Employers Association) in 2005-2013
  • The European integration work stream will be led by Gunther Verheugen, Vice-president of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry (2004-2010), an honorary Professor at the European University Viadrina
  • The anti-corruption activities will be elaborated under the guidance of Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz serving as the Prime Minister of Poland in 1996-1997 and after that, in his capacity of the Foreign Minister of Poland (2001-2005), he signed the Agreement on Polish accession to the EU
  • Health care proposals will be devised under the leadership of Bernard Couchner – ex-Foreign Minister of France and founder of the international organization “Doctors Without Borders”
  • In 200 days, the Agency will present a clear and comprehensive Ukraine modernization action plan
  • Dozens of journalists from leading European mass media attended the Forum to talk with representatives of Europe’s political and business circles
  • Dmitry Firtash, the President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, answers journalists’ questions
  • Dmitry Firtash is sure that the Agency for modernization of Ukraine will succeed

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