Shlapak: NSDCU’s Proposals Ignored

A recent law on state’s privatization program, which was drafted and approved by the government, does not include the proposals of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, according to First Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat Oleksandr Shlapak. Shlapak’s comments came during a press conference Friday.

Shlapak remains hopeful that the NSDCU’s proposals will be considered as the bill is developed and prepared for a vote in the Verkhovna Rada.

On March 26, the draft law “On State Privatization Program until 2008-2012” was approved and passed by the Verkhovna Rada.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko hopes to amend the privatization legislation and extend an improved bill through 2014.

During the NSDCU’s Feb.15 session, the president expressed his displeasure over the fact that the 2000-2002 privatization program was still in effect. He said the program only encouraged non-transparent privatization and that it did not meet the country’s national and economic security needs. To help remedy the situation, Yushchenko proposed a task force charged with formulating a new piece of legislation aimed at conducting fair and transparent privatization.