He stressed that the Government together with Minister of
Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov
and First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Eka Zguladze had embarked on retrofitting of the law
enforcement system: "The existing law enforcement system represents the
remnants of the Soviet militia. But you represent a new Ukrainian police of European
model. You represent a new model of attitude to the citizens of our country,
a new attitude to the oath," addressed Arseniy Yatsenyuk future police
officers.
"We have started from Kyiv city, after that - Dnipropetrovsk,
Kharkov, Odessa, Lutsk, Lviv, I hope – Chernivtsi, Vinnitsa. I am convinced that the brand new Ukrainian
police will reach each town," stressed the Prime Minister.
According to the PM, for the Cabinet Ministers this work
is difficult: "We should find funding: salary for each police officer –from
UAH 8 to 10 thousand. They need new equipment, vehicles, uniforms".
He highly assessed the support of the U.S. Government and that
of Canada in organizing the new police training project: "But the major
burden falls on the Government of Ukraine as it requires hundreds of millions
hryvnyas to invest. And it is crucial for the country. But the millions will never
replace your attitude to the citizens, your skills and your desire to serve
the people of Ukraine".
Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed that the new police of Kharkiv
will start patrolling the city since September 19: "From September 19,
Kharkov should start applauding you. After all, your principal task is to
change the attitude of police to the citizens. Your task is to serve everyone
and to protect everyone, to fight crime and strictly abide by law."
The Prime Minister accentuated that the law enforcement reform
requires the establishment of a patrol police, which is only the first step:
"We need to move on. To ensure true order within the country, to upgrade
the national police, to reform the prosecution, to set up the State Investigation
Bureau, to ensure work of the National Anti-corruption Bureau and accountability
for any corruption, starting with top government officials and ending with the
lowest rank officials".
He added a judicial reform is also in need.
"Everyone has high expectations for all of you. The Government
and each of us wants to see the brand new Ukrainian police in action in
Kharkiv, to see you being a class of Ukrainian fair, honest fighters for the
rights and freedoms of citizens and peace in the streets of Kharkiv. [Fighting
– ed.] for laws and every citizen to be protected. Ukraine
expects it from you," accentuated Arseniy Yatsenyuk in his address.
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