Georgian pass to EU: "We don't need no thought control"

     Georgian aspire to travel to the Schengen zone without a visa will soon come true. This week the majority of the European Parliament voted for visa-free regime for Georgian citizenship. The procedure still requires some technical realizations. In case of increase of migration or asylum seekers from Georgia, EU will be able to suspend the visa-free travel. The regime is designed for travelling, visiting and business purposes trip but not working on the territory of Schengen. Ukraine is going through similar procedure of EU visa liberalization. However, the war in Eastern Ukraine brings the case on another level of consideration and procedures.  

Holocaust Remembrance Day: Jews from Belarus and Ukraine

   Today is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day in 1945 the Auschwitz Concentration Camp was liberated by Soviet Army. More than a million people were killed in the death camp. Initially it was directed to Polish political prisoners, then Jewish question was moved along, then Roma and Sinti. Before the World War II two-third of Jewish population in Europe lived in Poland and Eastern Europe (Western Belarus and Western Ukraine). The population of towns in these parts of Belarus and Ukraine consisted from around 40% of Jews. After the war the numbers decreased dramatically. We should always remember it and these tragic facts cannot be denied. As the fact that other human slaughtering is happening nowadays. There are things in this world that have a special meaning for entire mankind and genocide is the biggest of them.

Aushwitz

Obama: US supports democracy in Ukraine

                President of the United States Barack Obama is currently in Greece with his last foreign visit as a President. Today in his speech at the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center in Athens he has unfolded the essence of democracy nowadays. He also outlined that US supports Ukraine and its citizens on the way of bringing the democracy and the rule of law to their state. According to Obama the democratic states with strong democratic institutions are more stable and prosper more. His words rang out in the country where democracy was born long time ago – in Ellada. However, there are still vast numbers of countries where people cannot use fully their rights as citizens.

Saakashvili: the reformer not a puppet

               Today Mikheil Saakashvili resigned from the position of the Governor of Odesa Oblast’ (Ukraine). He was appointed on this position by the President Petro Poroshenko last year. Saakashvili has a reputation of corruption combater in Georgia by implementing very successful reforms starting in 2003. If Ukrainians hoped for a miracle like it happened in Georgia, they would be disappointed. There is no only one person or element that would magically fix the things. The key element of success in combating corruption is a political will. Apparently, there is neither a strong political will nor the power of people to support the changes in the corruption system of Ukraine.  

Four-way talks in Berlin: the weight of promisses

            The one and half years ago four-way talks were focused on armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine only. Yesterday the Syrian issue was added to a meeting of the heads of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia. Apparently, the meeting was more a formal way of showing that West is interested in regulate the conflict though dialog in a peaceful way. Putin agrees on certain things, however the question is would these agreements be respected? Putin used to agree and sign documents on e.g. ceasefire anf the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine but keep destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and bombing Syrian city Allepo targeting kindergartens and hospitals. What is the cost of the word when Kremlin talks?

Georgia: between Europe and Russia

                The ruling party Georgian Dream has proven they were still popular (48%) among the nation after the parliamentary elections on October 9. The opposition - the United National Movement (UNM), took about 27%. Earlier the founder of UNM and the former President of Georgia and, M. Saakashvili, stated that if he was in Georgia, the party would win. He added, no mater what would be an outcome of the elections, he would not leave his post in Ukraine. There is also a big possibility that the populist pro-Russian party, Alliance of Patriots, will also enter the parliament. Preliminary report of the OSCE election observation mission to Georgia evaluated election positively. Will the new parliament bring Georgia closer to the EU and NATO?

Ukraine: visa liberalisation on the way

                The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of European Parliament approved to waive the visa requirements for Ukrainians. Previously, the visa liberalisation was expected to be implemented this summer. However, due to several legal and security issues that EU has to establish before Ukrainians would be able to enter the Schengen zone without a visa, it was postponed. Visa free regime will allow citizens of Ukraine who has valid biometric passports to visit Schengen zone (EU area excluding Ireland and UK and including Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) for business, touristic or family purpose. It does not give the right to work or stay longer than 90 days after entering. In order to finalize visa liberalisation Parliament and Council has to vote. 

Pavel Sheremet: life that won't be replaced

            Recently, Belarusians were remembering the disappearance of the journalist Dmitry Zavadky in 2000. Sixteen years later there is still no evidence, no track of finding out what had happened to him. Today shocking news about death of  the Belarusian journalist, Pavel Sheremet, strengthen the acknowledgement of dangerous position of independent media and journalists in particular. Pavel Sheremet was killed by explosion of his car this morning in Kyiv. Ukrainian General Prosecutor states that it was a murder. Will this time justice find its way by exposing a perpetrator? There is always hope for good, nevertheless today Belarus and the region lost its prominent journalist. 

Source: charter97.org

One in one out?

            It seemed like what could be worse than one of the EU member states would leave the European Union? It would mean that EU lost its appeal for the countries willing to join the Union. It also seemed like EU would stop its enlargement for many years. In reality no one got scared that people of the United Kingdom have decided - the EU is no good for them. Western Balkans  and Ukraine are still looking in the direction of the EU membership. At the same time, EU does not close the doors in front of them after the outcome of British referendum. 

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement signed

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) has been signed in Kyiv, where Minister of Canada,  Justin Trudeau, is with his two days visit. Before its implementation the agreement have to be ratified by parliaments of two countries.  CUFTA allows not only preferential access for goods to the territories of Ukraine and Canada but also impacts such areas like cooperation in trade, public procurement, regulation in the trade disagreements and intellectual property rights.  President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, states that Canadian businessmen are invited to take part in the Ukrainian privatization that will be proceeded in transparent and efficient way.

Afanasyev and Soloshenko released

 Illegaly imprisoned in Russia, Ukrainian citizens Hennadiy Afanasyev and Yuriy Soloshenko, have been returned to Ukrainian soil yesterday.  Afanasyev was accused of participation in a “terrorist group”, kidnapped in 2014, beaten up, tortured and forced to testify against  Oleksandr Kolchenko and Oleg Sentsov (currently imprisoned in Russia). Ukrainian pensioner, Soloshenko captured in Moscow in 2015, being accused of “espionage”.  According the President Poroshenko, the release of prisoners has happened due to efficient work of Minsk agreements. He reminded that the goal of Ukrainian state was to return all Ukrainian hostages held in Russia.

Glory of Ukraine

Yesterday Nadiya Savchenko imprisoned by Russia pilot and deputy of the Ukrainian Parliament has been released and safely arrived to her motherland. Presidential aircraft transported her from Russia to Ukraine where her mother and sister could not wait to greet her. As well as entire Ukrainian nation and people from all over the world who were waiting for that day for a long time. Let’s hope that this day would mark the time when a country started value its citizen, when its fight for him/her. There were dark times in Eastern Europe when prisoner of war returned to a country and immediately accused for betrayal was sent to concentration camp. A motherland did not want such heroes, hero had to die no matter what. Is it worth to die for your motherland or is it worth to live for it? Live and bring glory to your land, unbroken bravery and endless readiness to serve it.

Foto: charter97.org

Polish reformer in Ukraine

Leszek Balcerowicz, the former Finance Minister of Poland, has become the president’s representative in the Cabinet of Ministers in Ukraine. Balcerowicz is famous by his drastic but very efficient “shock therapy” package implemented in the 90s in Poland. There are voices (among of them Saakashvili) stating that there are many local experts who are worth to take such posts. They are right. However, Saakashvili was also invited from “outside” in order to create an efficient and corruption-free government. In order to break the oligarchy power in Ukraine it is prescribed to have people, who are not involved in the corruption machinery.

I encourage you to read more about the reforms of Balcerowicz and Saakashvili and how they should be implemented in Ukraine in my article here.

Visa-free travel to EU for Ukrainians

Despite scepticism of many people (unfortunately, mostly Ukrainians) the EU-Ukraine visa liberalisation will soon reach its fortunate end. The negative results of the referendum in the Netherlands on April 6 seemed to decrease hopes of Ukrainians for the EU associate agreement. However, on April 20 the European Commission has announced and published a proposal regarding the visa-free travel for Ukrainians. The proposal has been addressed to EU Parliament and the Council. The document does not include any other requirements to be fulfilled by the Ukrainian side. The real possible date of a final decision is June 2016.

Nadiya Savchenko: “my word cannot be taken away”

The agreement on release of N. Savchenko has been achieved between Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin by telephone call on Monday, April 20. Mother and sister of Nadiya along with P. Poroshenko had a telephone call with her yesterday. Despite the poor health after the dry hunger strike of Russian illicit prisoner, sentenced for 22 years, N. Savchenko’s spirit is strong and unshakable. Her reaction on the news about her possible release was very a strong as N. Savchenko herself: “the last word belongs to me and it cannot be taken away”. 

The mean of political will

          Results of the consultative referendum on the EU-Ukraine accociation agreement taken place in the Netherlands on 6 of April were not positive both for Ukraine and the EU. There are many talks if actually Dutch people were voting against the idea of the EU and its further enlargement instead of the agreement with Ukraine. Despite the lack of support from the Dutch society the government of the Netherlands is willing to consulate further actions with the EU Parliament. At the same time “engines” of the EU mechanism - Germany and France have a strong political will to make the agreement real. And this means much more for the future of the EU-Ukrainian cooperation than the results of the referendum.

Visa to Europe for Ukraine

 The implementation of a visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens traveling to the European Union might see the day light very soon. The European Commission and its President, Jean-Claude Junker, has observed the improvement of reforms in Ukraine. The politicians in Brussels has marked a good work of Ukrainian government in system reformation. The possible proposal on visa liberalization for Ukrainians could be made in April this year. This would be a big step towards the better cooperation and relations between EU and Ukraine. 

Why M. Saakashvili wants to be more than Prime Minister of Ukraine?

 M. Saakashvili’s aspiration to be “more than Prime Minister of Ukraine” is understandable. If he becomes a symbol of successful anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine, he will be the famous historical figure. Money and power of current Ukrainian oligarchs will vanish away, but the memory of the “person who’s changed the system” will stay forever. Perhaps, people would try to distort the fact by starting criminal investigations, stripping the citizenship (M.Saakashvili has been stripped Georgian citizenship). However, these people will stay in history as reformers, meanwhile the ones who tried to drag their names through the mire will be forgotten.

Essential lessons for Ukraine: Poland and Georgia

           My article devoted to reforms in Ukraine has been published by VoxUkraine, an independent analytical platform. It presents the possible scenario of anti-corruption, public administration and economic reforms using the experience of Ukrainian neighbours. Georgia has shown unpredictable results, initiating core reforms within couple of years, starting 2003. Poland, being on the edge of economic collapse in the 1989, implemented drastic economic reforms called "Shock therapy", which has boost the economic development. One of the key "ingredient" of successful reforms is the strong political will of a government to perform the reforms.

http://voxukraine.org/2016/02/11/georgia-and-poland-lessons-for-ukraine-en/

One in the field but without shield

       Last week the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Aivaras Abromavičius, announced his resign. Such statement should not be ignored by the Ukrainian government. This situations shows it is not enough to appoint some “bribe-free” ministers waiting until they combat corruption. The entire system must be changed. Altogether with the people from old system, whose time has passed. They have to leave. They simply should not have power to block reforms aimed to create new transparent and efficient system. And all of this in the hands of the Ukrainian government.