UKRAINE-PARLIAMENT-YANUKOVYCH-MESSAGE

Kyiv, July 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The inactivity and resistance of corrupt officials are the main obstacles in the way of profound modernization of Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych said in the opening remarks of his annual address to the Verkhovna Rada.

“Already at the early stages, the Ukrainian reforms have run into obstacles, which currently constitute a real threat of slowing down the process of profound renewal of all areas of public life, and are leading to depreciation of the results achieved,” the president’s press service quoted the address on Tuesday.

The contradictions between the intentions of the government authorities and the interests of bureaucratic groups formed on regional and corporate principles have been escalating into conflicts, Yanukovych said. These contradictions have created favorable conditions for strengthening the ideological positions of political parties and movements, which oppose the policy of reforms.

“Destructive activities of these forces have been translated into numerous political speculations. In such circumstances, strengthening the foundations of Ukraine’s statehood and democratic mechanisms in public management have acquired critical importance not only for continuing the reforms policy, but also for national security,” Yanukovych said.

The president’s address will be distributed among Ukrainian MPs in the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday, the presidential press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

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10:41:41 EET-2