OREANDA-NEWS. October 22, 2007. As it was announced at UNIAN (Ukrainian news agency) that a press conference of Vladimir Boyko, the Chairman of the board of “Ilyich iron and steel works” PJSC, Hero of Ukraine, was held. His meeting was journalists caused a big response. Reports of this press conference were published by many domestic mass media, including public TV channels.

More than sixty mass media representatives were enrolled to take part. It was a proof that the conference was destined to be special, among dozens of other meetings that the agency holds daily. The interest of journalist was really genuine and the scope of their questions was extremely varied. Opening the conference, V.S.Boykspoke of the activities of “Ilyich” works, the situation in the mining and iron and steel complex of the country and his participation in the election campaign. Speaking about the unique character of the works and the works’ place in the national economy he stressed that “he had offered more than once to show how reach Ukraine was and how economic relations were to be developed, using “Ilyich” works as the example.”

“We are a unique enterprise” V.S.Boyko continued, it is owned by 32,000 persons. I’m very much surprised that no one speaks in this country of labour collectives; they seem to have been forgotten in the hot atmosphere of political battles.

Why should we restrict ourselves with the problem of buyers, sellers and the price when we talk about privatization? I’ve always thought that privatization is but a means of finding an effective owner and the labour collective could be the one if it is aware of the tasks it is facing. What really matters is not the price paid but the consequences of the purchase. For instance, if “Ilyich works had acquired “Krivoy Rog” works, I’m convinced that in two years the amount spent would have been returned to the state and thousands of new jobs could have been created and the enterprise would work for the benefit of the country rather than for someone else.

At the moment our economy is facing a very difficult situation at the moment. Prices are constantly soaring, and the most terrible thing it affects the lives of the common people, an ordinary consumer. Every month the price of transportation is increased by 3%, as well as the price of electric power, the price of ferroalloys was increased by 25% within one year only.

The problem of coke and coal is an urgent one for many enterprises. The situation when prices are increased by 30-40% within just one month should not exist at all! In August the price of coke was 170 $ per ton and now it is 290 US dollars per ton?! There is no explanation at all. Strange things seem to happen with coal: the more state subsidies are given, the less is production and prices grow incredibly. It will badly hit ordinary people. Still, we hear only beautiful pledges, devoid of any economic substantiation. Situation in economy affects everybody. A pensioner asked me at one meeting:” Do you think it will be better not to increase my pension, and install ban on price increase instead?” I’ve always suggested acting like that. It is hard not to agree that at stable prices a man can always feel an increase of his income. So, he can really feel improvement in his living standard. Still, I’m very much convinced that this not going to happen, because our people are of unique character: everybody wants social justice but they all vote for liberals. The liberal parties took part in the election, exploiting the ideas that in essence belong to the parties of left orientations; these ideas are not likely to be implemented. I am sure that serious testing is in store for us.

We, the workers of “Ilyich” works have surmounted much. For example, there had been time when the prosecutors and taxmen did not leave the enterprise for eight months seeking reasons to launch a criminal case against me in order to bury our privatization. But still, we managed to survive. I was never afraid of anything and neither I am now! This election showed that people trust us. And time will come when the national idea appears that could unite the people and everything will become right and we’ll work and obey the law.”

Mr.Boyko told the journalists of the social sphere of the works, telling that the works increased the volumes of such work, as compared to the times of disintegration of the USSR.

The pres conference lasted one hour only, nearly breaking the regular schedule of the agency’s work, because the hall where press conferences are held has strict schedule.

A series of endless different questions were asked, and none of them remained unanswered. Here are some interesting questions, asked:

- Mr. Boyko, the Socialist party, that you backed, trying to get into the new parliament lost the election. Had you known the result, how would you have spent the money you had spent on the campaign?
-You can ask Joseph Vinskiy. He tried to get something from us when we gave our first consent to back the Socialist party. Let him repeat my words in public. I can assure you that we did not give a penny for election campaign of the Socialist party. We only waged the work at our enterprises. Still, the party failed to gain at least 50,000 votes. The Socialist party would have got into the parliament if we had not been obstructed.

-Do you pay the party dues and if yeas, then how much?
What party dues are you talking about? I am not a party member. I pay trade union dues every month. I do not even know the exact amount, but I pay in due time the amount I should. I also pay to the insurance company, I insured myself.
What is the reason of the loss of the socialist party at the parliamentary election? Will you still back them?
-I am not aware of the reason. I think the socialist would still get into the parliament if the votes are recounted. I’ve never betrayed anybody. I had two options: Not to take part in the election or to join the socialists. Though every party wanted to see Sergey Matvienkov, my brother-in arms in their ranks. The party needs adjusting, party ranks should be cleaned. It should be cleaned from crooks. Moroz is considered a traitor, but whom did he betray? Was it Melnichenko? Did he betray the orange? He did not call himself a supporter of the orange movement? Treachery is what Melnichenko had done. Of course, Moroz did some mistakes, but nobody is perfect, including me. I hope that Moroz has enough courage to admit mistakes he has made and get rid of those who are on his way.
- Who has Moroz to get rid of to make the party cleane?
- I am surprised to see such person as Yaroslav Mendyuk near Moroz. I’ve said it to him personally. Not only me.