OREANDA-NEWS. June 12, 2009. Comment by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko with regards to overcoming by the Parliament the veto of the President on the Law "On ban of gambling business in Ukraine".
 
A month ago I have started the battle for closing down of gambling business: slot-machines, casinos, those establishments that are ruining spirituality, morality of children, teenagers and sometimes even ruining the whole families.

A month ago we closed gambling business with a resolution of the Government and simultaneously submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on complete closure and banning of all slot-machines, the whole gambling business in Ukraine. And then, on initiative of the Government, the Parliament voted and the decision was taken.

After that the draft bill was to be signed by the President and the whole gambling mafia found arguments for the President to veto it.

But this day a significant event has happened. It is just uniting of the Parliament, uniting of all the political forces which has made possible overcoming the President’s veto, a corrupt veto, and giving chance to the country to live free from mafia-controlled gambling business.

They say it is a business and some have lost their returns, profits and work. If they say so, spread of narcotics is also a business which brings profits and provides with work. I take narcobusiness and gambling business as similar activities.

Today the gambling business was brought to a complete halt. It will not exist in Ukraine. Ukraine will live patiently, spiritually, morally. And I am convinced it will do good to Ukraine’s people.

It will always be that way. When I set a goal, I will always achieve it. Perhaps, not immediately, perhaps, with huge obstacles but I will definitely yield the result.