The Ukrainian MP shared his opinion about the campaign which was developed against him recently.<\/p>\n
\nKharkiv always has been and remains the strategic city of Ukraine. In the contemporary history the choice of Kharkiv has repeatedly played a crucial role in forming of the domestic political agenda. Obviously the elections here always draw close attention. In spite of the fact that the next race is still awhile away from now, seemingly, preparation for it is presently under way. Otherwise, how else to explain smear campaign streams which pour out inth the information space. Perhaps, it is \u00abelimination of the territory \u201cfrom possible competitors. One of the first who appeared in the crosshairs was the Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Feldman.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Oleksandr Borisovich, what’s your opinion about the campaign which is developed against you in Kharkiv recently?<\/p>\n
\n– It’s not the first campaign in my life which is developed against me. I can’t tell that I got accustomed to it. It’s impossible to get accustomed to dirt. Similar things cause feeling of disgust in any normal person. I think that “authors” of a current campaign have “news” not for one “newspaper” which will fan around the city. By the way, not only the press is used. I have information that a number of provocations is preparing before the New Year’s holidays. For instance, distribution of the spoiled product sets on my behalf is planned. I’ll tell directly all who stand behind it: to You couldn’t manage to squeeze me out from Kharkiv. Putting scare into me also doesn’t succeed.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 You always try to move beyond the direct answer concerning your possible participation in the Kharkiv’s mayoral elections. By results of the last sociological researches, your personal rating practically equaled the acting mayors rating. Why you hold an intrigue and don’t tell whether you will participate in a mayor race? From whom or what the decision to fight for a chair of the Kharkiv city’s mayor depends on?<\/p>\n
\u2014 The decision concerning my participation in the Kharkiv’s mayoral elections depends only on me. Nobody else. Therefore all attempts to influence me both in respect of my participation, and in respect of nonparticipation, are doomed to a failure. I wouldn’t begin “to play” with sociology. You understand, ten more ratings with absolutely opposite figures will appear tomorrow. And everyone will insist that his rating is the most fair. The Kharkiv citizens are pragmatic, competent people. All of us know who did what he could and who to trust. I didn’t stand for the last mayoral elections because I considered this was not a time to arrange fights of local value in frontline Kharkiv. The elections should in no way destabilize a situation and split the city. A lot of things depend on the one who will personally participate in the following Kharkiv’s mayoral elections \u2013 the acting mayor Hennadiy Kernes or his protege. I consider that the mayor chair is not something that should be descended. It shall be the choice of Kharkiv, but not the choice of Kernes. The choice must be conscious, in case of the competition of development city programs and approaches. And I am ready to participate in such elections.<\/p>\n
\u2014 How do you rate the work of the acting mayor Hennadiy Kernes?<\/p>\n
\u2014 It’s always important to be objective and not to come down to groundless criticism. I always said that Kharkiv in many respects changed in recent times. Much has been achieved and it is the truth. Today Kharkiv looks beautiful well-groomed city. Roads are repaired, parks and squares are done up, fountains began to function. The rest and sports infrastructure develops. But the truth is that in Kharkiv there are districts about which, apparently, forgot. Yes, they are “not front”, not central. But there live the Kharkiv citizens who are entitled to have comfortable and safe communities. In order to achieve attention to the street, it isn’t obligatory for the house to go in the capacity of applicants for personal appointment to the mayor who “will solve a problem”. The system, but not manual control should work. People must know and clearly see when the intra quarter road is made, the entrance is repaired and how much it costs. It’s easy to make it publicly available. It’s possible to use “for peaceful purposes” the Kharkiv Izvestia newspaper which goes beyond budgetary funds. When the bench equals the submarine price, there is a question: do we need such bench? You see, today’s decentralization is not just words and declarations. This is already additional considerable funds in local budgets, in Kharkiv this is about billions. And every Kharkiv citizen must understand how they’re being spent. Moreover, people must participate in forming of first-priority problems and tasks, to control their accomplishment and adequate charge for work. In my plans the creation of the Popular Initiatives Organization which will unite all who don’t want to wait for “favour” from the power, and are ready “to take the power” in hand. Economic and social doctrines of Kharkiv with clearly defined priorities and tasks must be created, and, above all the specific amounts for their accomplishment must be indicated. The process of budget money spending is the case of all Kharkiv citizens, but not a “small party” of officials.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Do you really sincerely believe that it can work?<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 It’s already working. In Kharkiv there are plenty of active, competent people capable to analyze. The simple example, the “Nash Kray\u00bb deputy teams constitute passports of district problems. People not only specify a problem, but also offer ways of its solution. And this is not only household problems. For example, a huge number of people feel strongly about the ecological situation in Kharkiv. There is no wonder, considering what we eat, what water we drink and what we breathe. In Kharkiv there are plenty of active, competent people capable to analyze. The simple example, the “Nash Kray” deputy teams constitute passports of district problems. People not only specify a problem, but also offer ways of its solution. And this is not only household problems. For example, a huge number of people feel strongly about the ecological situation in Kharkiv. There is no wonder, considering what we eat, what water we drink and what we breathe. Probably I will surprise a lot of people, but I don’t exclude that soon in the Kharkiv local councils the powerful “green” political force will appear. It’s more than urgent because it is health and life issues. And we constantly have something more important. We should stop confusing urgent to important. From cosmetic and patch works it is necessary to proceed to strategic issues.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Judging by the number of criminal cases concerning the Kharkiv officials, it’s possible to earn not bad on “urgent”, isn’t it?<\/p>\n
\u2014 “Let’s not treat all alike”. In acting mayor’s team there are a lot of worthy professional people who have nothing to fear. Personally I’m categorically against the practice when with change of the head all previous team \u00abgathers things and goes away”. The specialists should be appreciated and their knowledge must be used as much as it possible. Any total cleanings are a loss of time. As to criminal cases concerning officials \u2014 surely, the guilty must be punished. But the punishment must be deserved, for the proved offence. All these “mask shows”, hundreds of investigating officers in the City Council, all this is seen by Ukraine and the world. It is naive to wait for investments into city economy after such “pictures”. At the end of the month I’ve scheduled a working trip to the USA. In the agenda are meetings and consultations with representatives of political and economic establishment concerning a number of projects in the social and economic sphere. And, you know, in preparation of these meetings we faced very ambiguous image of our city in the eyes of potential investors.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Do you think that your projects in Kharkiv will have “green” light and they won’t be blocked only because you are their initiator?<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 No “blockades” stop me. Sometimes it is even a pity for people who are ready to run through brick walls, but to prevent the children from travelling free of charge to the Ecopark. The world changed. Today no school directives will affect the wish of parents and children to spend day in nature. No blockades of “A 1000 Team’s Tournament” will stop its realization. This defective logic to do everything from “blessing” of the power is in the past. And sooner the power will understand it, the better. It’s easy “to suppress”, it’s more difficult to support the initiatives. Especially, if people are ready to invest their proprietary funds in a social infrastructure, in the projects supporting healthy lifestyle, solve the problems connected with rehabilitation of sick children.<\/p>\n
\u2014 You’ve been placed in debtors recently. Judging by actively peddled information, you have heavy debts. Is it true?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Yes, it’s truth. I’ll tell you more: I always borrowed money. The Shopping Center “Barabashovo” was constructed on borrowed money, for example. I came to policy from business. Business always borrows to develop. This is normal civilized world practice. Another thing is that the modern world lives in a normal credit granting system under 2-3% per annum, when we pay \u2013 25-30%. It’s natural that practically all in Ukraine search “cheaper” credits; they also use an extra bank loan practice. I’ve never participated in doubtful privatization, “took” nothing at knockdown price, never “milked” public utilities, and didn\u2019t collect “tribute”. I can report for each earned million, including the first. Believe me, I’m already checked \u2013 rechecked hundreds of times. I think, next “cheerful pictures” printed in unknown typographies will be appearing with an enviable regularity. Well, paper can’t blush. I’m not going to join a smear tactics competition, I suggest alternate means: who will make for Kharkiv more. For one’s own account. Let\u2019s make something that will remain in the city, that Kharkiv citizens can use free of charge. Let’s be engaged in creation, but not senseless and useless provocations.<\/p>\n
\nSource: Vesti<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"