“Democratic state is a task for all 46 million Ukrainians”, Arseniy YATSENYUK said at Kyiv Security Forum.

«Ukrainians demand accountable authorities, fair elections and strive for better future. And  only they are able bring these changes in this country”. It was declared by Arseniy Yatsenyuk, founder of Open Ukraine Foundation, leader of “Front for Change” party during a discussion panel within the 5th Kyiv Security Forum “Modern Global Security. Does Democracy Matter?”, organized by Open Ukraine Foundation on Friday, April 20.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk spoke at the discussion panel “Democracy or Revolution?” together with Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France (2007 – 2010), Christopher Walker, Vice President for Strategy and Analysis, Freedom House (U.S.A), Kanwal Sibal, Foreign Secretary to the Government of India (2002 – 2003), Sameh Seif El-Yazal, Head of “Al-Gomhuria” Centre for Political Studies and Analysis in Egypt.

«Democracy is not only a word. These are freely elected, accountable and non-corrupted authorities, social equality, free and competitive economy, rule of law. What do we have in reality instead? We have corrupted authorities, complete social inequality, huge gap between rich and poor, hand control by the president”, leader of political party “Front for Change” emphasized.

To stop Ukraine’s rolling down to autocratic regime, the efforts should be made to change standards in this country: “Ukraine is an European country. However we need to make our best to truly establish and promote European values in our country. And much depends on people. If anyone says that a few politicians can change the entire political landscape, this is not true. Only people can bring these changes”, he highlighted.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that Ukrainians have an experience of the Orange Revolution, values of which are still relevant today: “People do understand what freedom of speech means and what generally freedom means. They realize that the power can be reelected and not to be afraid of it”.

«People demand that authorities must be accountable to the public, demand free and transparent elections. People strive for better future, and we have to make it real. People call for changes. And I am convinced that they will get changes. This year in Ukraine the parliamentary elections are to take place and this is a chance to make a change. Not only new names in the government and the parliament, but change of standards and entire system”, Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated.

During a media briefing attending by Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic and Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France (2007-2010), Arseniy Yatseniuk emphasized the importance of initialing and signing the Association Agreement with the EU. “However the road from initialing to signing is very far. And it’s completely clear that the agreement is not going to be signed until democracy is reestablished in Ukraine, elections are hold freely and transparently and until political repression is stopped”, he stressed.

«Ukraine will be democratic country, and this is a task for all 46 million Ukrainians”, Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized.

Kyiv Security Forum, an annual international event, established by Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007, is a discussion platform for the most pressing security issues in Europe and Black Sea region. The objective of the forum is to strengthen cooperation in security sector between the European Union and the Black Sea Region, raising awareness on security developments among key stakeholders, strengthen a role of independent and non-government actors in finding solutions to security problems of Europe.