Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: It is the Head of State, the Cabinet of Ministers and The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that bear Responsibility for Odesa Port Plant
At the press conference in Odesa on Friday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, commented upon the situation concerning Odesa Port Plant. Thus, he stated that the people familiar with the situation at the plant "unanimously declared that the bidding for Odesa Port Plant resembled a huge fraud".
V.Lytvyn reminded that the attempts to privatize Odesa Port Plant had been made for 16 years, thus it was necessary to determine the demands of the State for this enterprise. According to V.Lytvyn, "if the State believes that the enterprise shall work for the sake of the country and as the company that provides for the State security, then it is essential to elaborate the development plan for this enterprise".
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deems necessary to compensate the VAT to Odesa Port Plant and allocate funds required for the energy saving programs. "As this enterprise gained income in the amount of UAH 700 million in the last year, and the State failed to obtain anything from it, the enterprise does not develop", - he stated.
V.Lytvyn characterized the bidding for Odesa Port Plant and stressed: "If the State resolved to sell this enterprise, the bidding must be a full-fledged one". "It was therefore necessary to reach an agreement at the level of central authorities, as both the Head of State and the Cabinet of Ministers bear responsibility for this enterprise, and The Verkhovna Rada can not keep aloof, - stated the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The declarations of certain political leaders concerning the matter are not sufficient".
He deems necessary to determine the prospects of the enterprise and predict the consequences of the trials.
If the adopted resolution presupposes further public ownership of the enterprise, the State shall also take measures for the sake of its development, believes V.Lytvyn. "If it is sold to the strategic investor, the real bidding shall be held to obtain a real price. It is necessary to refuse from any manipulations, and demonstrate a State standpoint", - stressed the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.