23 December 2010, 12:00
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, believes that the authorities have demonstrated that they consider the humanitarian policy non-essential. He drew this conclusion from the motions to the bill "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2011" adjusted to the second reading, which was distributed by the subject committee.
The Deputy Chairman believes that the authorities neglect the humanitarian issues, which is proved by the rejection of amendments on the financial support of education, culture, public health, physical culture, tourism, etc. "The budget drastically cuts down the expenditures for recreation and infrastructure for the grassroots sports; it actually liquidates tourism as a branch, and reduces financial support of the vocational training, which may lead to the closure of numerous education establishments," the politician stressed. In the end of the fiscal year, out of UAH 33 million, the Government funded only the editions submitted by the authority representatives. "The State Budget allocated only UAH 20 million for the publication of the Ukrainian books next year. Truly, tell me what is your attitude to the Ukrainian book, and I will tell what your attitude towards Ukraine is," M.Tomenko stated.
The Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that the acting authorities totally neglect and disrespect the humanitarian policy, investing in the so-called ‘megaprojects´, which are of interest not only for the businessmen, but also for the officials lobbying their companies to gain profit.
M.Tomenko admitted that such an anti-Ukrainian approach is precisely the opposite of the declarations of the President of Ukraine who claims his love for the Ukrainian historical heritage, culture, grassroots sports, etc. The Deputy Chairman reminded that it was only yesterday that the President called on supporting the humanitarian sector at the Public Humanitarian Council. However, the budget presents even lower figures than the budget of the previous year of the financial crisis. "Thus, we live between two humanitarian policies: the one advocated by the President, and the one implemented by the Government and The Verkhovna Rada," the politician summed up.