By Martin Banks - 9th November 2010
Closer cooperation requires the Ukraine to choose the path of democracy and rule of law, fighting corruption
Gunnar Hökmark
The head of Ukraine's security services (SBU) has admitted that he "lacks the instruments" to fully tackle corruption in the country.
Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, SBU head Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi said that this was the "biggest challenge" he faced.
However, Khoroshkovskyi stressed his determination to "do the job of fighting corruption to the very best of my ability".
He was in Brussels for a visit to Nato headquarters where he was due to give a briefing on the support given by the organisation for Ukraine's ongoing reform efforts.
Ahead of the meeting, Khoroshkovskyi, who took up his current post just over six months ago, briefed journalists on progress made in tackling corruption which he said was "an issue in all aspects of Ukrainian life".
He said recent successes included cooperating with the FBI in tackling cyber-terrorism and the seizure at the Ukrainian port of Odessa of a large shipment of cocaine which he said was destined for the EU.
"We have achieved a lot in the last eight months and I believe that in terms of fighting corruption we are on the right track," he said.
"Since I took office the pace of tackling corruption, including corruption at the highest levels, has increased
The SBU head said that, in the past, those in power had not shown the "responsibility" to tackle corruption in Ukraine.
"By that I mean there was not responsibility to do the job to the best of one's ability," he explained.
"Ukrainian society does not feel this (corruption) is a problem and that is why we need the assistance of those outside Ukraine, including the EU."
He conceded that, currently, corruption "at all levels" was the "biggest impediment or obstacle" to the reform process in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, a group MEPs have just returned from a fact-finding trip to Ukraine where they raised concerns about the rule of law, fairness and transparency in the recent regional elections and the freedom of press.
Gunnar Hökmark, deputy chairman of the EPP group, led the delegation which met opposition leader Yulia Timoshenko as well as government representatives such as deputy prime minister, Sergiej Tihipko, minister of foreign affairs, Konstantyn Gryschenko, and the speaker of parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn.
Hokmark said, "We welcome increased cooperation and closer ties, including free trade agreements, visa facilitation and energy cooperation. But closer cooperation requires the Ukraine to choose the path of democracy and rule of law, fighting corruption and conflicts of interest in government and authorities.
"When we raise concerns and worries, it is not to raise obstacles for cooperation but to get rid of them. There must be no repetition of the failures of the recent regional elections. The next parliamentary elections must be just as fair and transparent as those that brought the present government to office."
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