OREANDA-NEWS. Opening statement by Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a session of the Government on January 14, 2015.

Dear representatives of mass media!

The Russian terrorists continue to kill Ukrainian civilians, continue to shell Ukrainian military. Terrorism, which in Ukraine is committed under the authority of the Russian leaders, endangers our statehood and the life of each Ukrainian citizen.

Terrorism has no boundaries. And the terrorist attacks in Paris, terrorist attacks in other countries - Belgium, Australia, Canada, pose a threat, and all of us in synergy should respond, with the entire civilized world.

Now the security of Ukrainians is in the hands of Ukrainian military, in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers, in the hands of National Guard troops and everyone who is fighting in the area of anti-terrorist operation.

I would ask a minute’s silence to commemorate those who died from Russian terrorists in Volnovakha.  

Thank you, please have a seat.  

The so-called DPR and LPR must be recognized by the entire international community as terrorist organizations. The Security Service of Ukraine has launched the relevant criminal proceedings and certain Russian combatants from DPR and LPR has been announced suspicious of committing terrorist attacks.

I also address the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine together with the General Prosecutor's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine to take measures to ensure legal recognition in general of the organizations such as DPR and LPR, as terrorist by conducting an appropriate judicial procedure.  

The Government of Ukraine appeals to all international organizations, to our Western partners in order, at the appropriate political level, to recognize the organizations DPR and LPR as terrorist ones and to take appropriate measures of international legal response towards these terrorist gangs operating under the guise of the Russian Federation.

Now, respected colleagues, several issues concerning our current work. Today the Government is to adopt a decision on a public competition and the selection of the largest state-owned companies. The list constitutes presently 62 major public companies and the Cabinet of Ministers will encourage on transparent and open conditions to chair these companies the real professionals, who are able to lift these companies from losses, to undertake appropriate reforms in the key state monopolies and are capable to show that in Ukraine it is applied a new method of management the public companies, as, unfortunately, these are just state-owned companies which constitute certain part of the overall corruption within the country. The main streams flow through these companies, so it must cease. The Government Decree, which is to be endorsed today envisages the establishment of a public nomination committee. Anyone who wishes should submit their proposals to participate in the competition, submit their CV. We will publicly hold the selection process to chair the corresponding large state-owned company.

Moreover, I would like to separately give a few instructions concerning the members of anti-terrorist operations.

Each Ukrainian soldier who fights for his country must obtain a combatant status, as provided by law. But it is inadmissible when government officials, after spending several hours in the anti-terrorist operation area, run fast to get a combatant status.

Thus, first – I appeal to the Minister of Social Policy and the Justice Minister of Ukraine to prepare the appropriate amendments to the law, that should be aimed at the only one thing : he who defended the country with weapons in hands is an anti-terrorist operation member and, accordingly, a combatant.

Whoever has fulfilled his duty as a civil servant in the area of the ATO and was commissioned by the Government as a public officer cannot be an ATO member.

An unacceptable fact is when deputy Minister of Regional Development received an anti-terrorist operation member status, including on the purpose to avoid lustration.

Hence, as the Prime Minister, I introduce a proposal to dismiss deputy Minister of Regional Development Dmytro Isayenko from his post.

I separately instruct the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to investigate the fact of obtaining the status of the ATO member by the respective former official.

I demand all the Ministers to thoroughly study all the materials that go through the Commission and to encourage to work with the Commission mass media and community members to ensure the one who has the right could receive the combatant certificate, and who has no right – should not even go to the Commission to obtain the certificate.

Dear colleagues, now we pass on to the agenda issues. Thank the media!