Ukraine Reform Conference: Foreign Secretary's opening speech
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spoke about plans to help the Ukrainian government build a prosperous, peaceful and successful Ukraine.
Good morning everybody, well welcome to London in this particularly Qatar-like temperature we seem to have here today – absolutely beautiful weather, classic typical London summer day. Listen, I’m going to make an executive decision, which is anybody who wants to take his, or indeed her jacket off, please feel free. We are going to do some work here so if you are hot, which you may well be, then feel free – I personally am and I will be taking my jacket off as soon as I have finished these opening remarks – please take them off.
I am delighted to be standing here today with you, thank you all for coming, with Prime Minister Groysman, my friend Pavlo Klimkin who is here in the front row and of course many other distinguished members of the Ukrainian government.
We’ve come together with one aim, which is to build a prosperous and a peaceful and successful Ukraine, and to help that government to press ahead with reform. I’ve been twice to Ukraine in the brief time I’ve been Foreign Secretary and every time I go, I come away more sympathetic and more inspired by what is going on. I’ve run around that beautiful precinct with the golden cupola churches and I’ve drunk beer by the river and I’ve eaten chicken Kiev (of course as you would expect) – very interesting indeed it was.
I made a video with my friend the Mayor of Kiev welcoming people to the Eurovision Song Contest, which as you know Britain once again mystifyingly failed to win. But I assure you that we are not giving up – we may be leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe and we are certainly not leaving Eurovision, my friends. We are delighted to see the success of that venture that you had in Kiev and we’re delighted by the Ukrainian mission here today.
President Poroshenko came to Britain in April on a very successful mission. We share so much. We have a vital interest in our country in the success of Ukraine. Not just because of the economic potential of this country of 44 million people, but because Ukraine – I think it’s in the etymology – it stands literally on the frontier of the challenge by Russia to the rules-based international system in which we all believe, and which the UK is determined to preserve.
And if Ukraine is to meet the aspirations of its people, then the government has got to forge ahead with reform – purging corruption, strengthening the country’s resilience. And, there is a familiar mantra which you will all have heard: that Ukraine has had more reforms in 3 years since the revolution than in the previous 2 decades since independence. And there has been great progress. All officials have to declare their income and assets – not something actually I think we have in the UK, Judith [Gough], as far as I know. And significant progress has been achieved in banking reform, but none of us I think would agree that the task is done – it’s not over.
There are worrying signs that reform is faltering. And we’re seeing some concern about selection of new members of the Supreme Court, a lack of progress in creating special anti-corruption courts. We see some obstacles faced by civil society, groups who are working against corruption, and I think everybody agrees that we need to do more to fulfil the ideals of those who braved the snipers bullets during the revolution of the Maidan. And corruption has got to be rooted out – I think we all agree – across the board. The work of the national anti-corruption bureau and other institutions will only be worthwhile if the guilty face justice.
But successful prosecutions and convictions require a clean judiciary and the rule of law, giving all Ukrainians the confidence that no-one will be immune from accountability. Ukrainians deserve a professional civil service appointed on merit, and a modernised health and education system free from corruption.
The government wants to deliver economic growth, which in turn requires foreign investment. But investors (I think there was a very successful business breakfast just now) will only do business in Ukraine if they can be sure of the integrity of the courts and certain that their contracts will be enforced and upheld. There must also be electoral reform in time for the next national polls in 2019 starting with the appointment of a new central election commission and stronger rules and punishments for electoral malpractice.
Other essential reforms remain outstanding in land, in pensions and in state-owned enterprises. Those who benefitted from the old system will of course fight tooth and nail to defend their privileges, but Ukraine benefits from a remarkable array of leaders in government, parliament, in civil society – many of whom I’ve now had the privilege to meet – and I believe these people are devoted to their country and determined to build their peaceful and prosperous Ukraine. And I have every confidence that they will prevail and overcome those who would obstruct Ukraine’s progress for the sake of personal gain.
We all know the scale of the challenge. We all know what is at stake – for the UK, for the west, for the world – in Ukraine. That’s why I believe this conference on reform in Ukraine is so important, and that’s why we offer all our support to the efforts of Prime Minister Groysman and to his government. I’m delighted that they will today launch their Action Plan to 2020, spelling out the government’s aims and priorities. But above all, their unbending resolve to press on with reform. So I would like to begin by inviting Prime Minister Groysman to speak on behalf of the Ukrainian government.