Long time no see

Hardly had the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Petro Poroshenko entered his office when he left for Chisinau to take part in the CIS summit meeting.

“Every single day I’ll spend in this office is going to be efficient. I’m concerned with things to be done, not the office itself, so that’s why I’m immediately going away to Chisinau. That’s where I’ll get down to business,” he said to the reporters.

One has to admit that Poroshenko’s appointment was a surprisingly quick, smooth, and matter-of-fact business. It came about so rapidly that even the traditional bunch of flowers was forgotten.

The MPs did not ask the ministerial candidate one question prior to the vote. Well, indeed, who doesn’t know the father of the president’s godson, the chocolate tycoon Petro Poroshenko? The total of 240 MPs voted for him. In the Party of Regions faction only one MP, Vasyl Hrytsak, cast his vote for Poroshenko, while Yulia Tymoshenko’s faction backed him almost unanimously, with the exception of two absentees. In the faction of Communists, the lone “microphone thrower” Oleksandr Tkachenko did so. Lytvyn’s Bloc was unanimously “for,” while in the People’s Union “Our Ukraine” the idyll was spoiled by Baloha’s United Center. This sabotage even urged Oksana Bilozir to leave the party. After the favorable vote she rushed to hug and kiss the newly appointed minister of foreign affairs.

As The Day has already written, Poroshenko’s experience in diplomacy is limited to the degree he received 20 years ago from the Kyiv Institute of International Relations. Still, a vast majority of experts and politicians have a favorable opinion of this appointment. The government, by all appearances, is also happy about it.

In the lobby, reporters asked Poroshenko whether he remembered Tymoshenko’s words about the “group in striped swimsuits” (a famous quotation from a Soviet comedy. – Ed.). “No, I don’t. I believe in working for unification, rather than disintegration,” came the reply.

In recent years Poroshenko’s political career has had its ups and downs. President’s “dear friend” (Yushchenko being his child’s godfather) waged a short-lasting war against Tymoshenko in 2005. The program on Inter Channel in which

Tymoshenko blamed him for her dismissal made history, while her quip “all snotty and weepy” in reference to him was enshrined.

After the corruption scandal, Poroshenko had to withdraw from politics. He weathered the storms in his business underground, but was strong enough not to rise again by again getting close to both the president and the prime minister. Not so long ago, his name appeared on the list of prospective vice prime ministers in the coalition of the PR and BYuT, which, nevertheless, was not to be.

Today, the BYuT members say that Poroshenko has more wisdom than in 2005.

“He has anatomized the drawbacks in his behavior, so I think he’s going to be okay,” Andrii Kozhemiakin assured the journalists.

It is doubtful whether the other appointments are going to be okay. I do wish to be wrong here, but the parliamentary armistice is likely to end at this point. The Party of Regions MPs were obviously angry that the coalition had enough votes for a positive decision. They are again threatening to block the rostrum if the BYuT insists on the priority of cadre issues for the session on October 20.

We have asked several experts about the impact Poroshenko’s appointment may have on Ukraine’s international course.

Valerii CHALY, Deputy Director General, Director for International Programs, Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Research:

“The positive aspect of this appointment is that we finally have a minister of foreign affairs, for the absence of this political figure had been hindering Ukraine’s effective international policy. I should note that Poroshenko is a special candidate for a special period. His first steps testify to the fact that he is inclined to efficiently work day by day, applying anti-crisis management to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I hope that his qualities as a manager will permit solving the current problems of both the central apparatus and the offices abroad, as underfinancing has been causing difficulties in the work of our diplomats. The parliamentary support for him as a ministerial candidate will result in the support for his international initiatives.

“Given a basic education in international relations and a command of foreign languages, Poroshenko is quite prepared to perform his duties in the new office. Also important is the fact that he is equidistant from both the president and the prime minister. This will enable him to direct the work of the ministry in his charge according to the norms of current legislation. Time will show how much one can achieve in a short while, because the presidential election will involve the appointment of a new government.

“This office may give a new impetus to Poroshenko’s own political career: the ministerial portfolio is the gateway back to big politics in which he will appear next to Ukraine’s president and prime minister on the international arena.

“In any case, taking into account the analysis of advantages and certain reservations, Poroshenko’s appointment appears to be a well-balanced decision under the present political circumstances. Today one could hardly find a better candidate.

“The office of the minister of foreign affairs is important and responsible in this complicated period of electioneering. Poroshenko’s efficiency in this office will shape his further political career.”