To implement his anti-corruption policies, Victor Yushchenko has signed an Anti-Corruption Concept and submitted several anti-corruption bills to the Verkhovna Rada, according to the President’s press-office.
During the 2004 presidential race, Mr. Yushchenko claimed anti-corruption efforts would be among his priorities as head of state. He has since reiterated his intention to eradicate corruption. The President decided to personally control the issue and ordered his office to formulate a strategy to tackle one of Ukraine`s most pressing problems.
The bills he presented for approval to parliament (On the Ratification of the UN Anti-Corruption Convention, On the Ratification of the Anti-Corruption Criminal Convention, On the Ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Anti-Corruption Criminal Convention) should help promote Ukraine as a country with a favorable political climate for large-scale and mutually beneficial cooperation with other states in the area of corruption.
The other three bills (On the Fundamentals to Prevent and Counteract Corruption, On Changes in Ukrainian Legal Acts on Responsibility for Corruption, On Responsibility of Juridical Persons for Corruption) define the term corruption and violations associated with corruption in detail and describe what should be done to prevent and fight corruption.
When enacted by the Verkhovna Rada, the above-mentioned bills should become the foundation for the implementation of anti-corruption policies. Ukraine’s parliamentary leaders supported these initiatives by signing the National Unity Pact last August.
Members of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine are expected to work out a plan to carry out anti-corruption policies in accordance with the Anti-Corruption Concept.
On November 18, 2005, Victor Yushchenko signed a Decree on Urgent Measures to Legalize the Economy and Prevent Corruption. On February 9, 2006, he announced that his program to fight corruption would be among paramount priorities of state policy.
