After five very exciting and happy years, my appointment as Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Ukraine is coming to an end – on May 31, as originally planned. I will return to our headquarters in London after that.
When I was appointed to Kyiv in May 2013, after my posting in Istanbul as Deputy Director of the EBRD in Turkey, I had no idea of the actual warmth and friendliness of Ukrainians. I fell in love immediately with the country. It is, however, the unbelievable degree of resourcefulness of Ukrainian people, their bravery and commitment to protect their individual and collective rights, liberties and democratic values, which I had the privilege of witnessing during the Revolution of Dignity, that inspired my indelible admiration for Ukraine. I will cherish these feelings for the rest of my life.
Since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has made remarkable progress on many fronts, from stabilizing the economy to cleaning up of the rotting financial system, solidifying links with the West, reducing corruption, reforming the police, health care and education, decentralizing power and many more. Most remarkably, it has strengthened its national identity and pride to unprecedented levels.
All this became possible owing to Ukraine’s inherent strengths that I mentioned. However, there is still quite some way to go, because Ukraine should not be satisfied with what has been achieved so far. It needs to continuously and tirelessly endeavour to improve. Ukraine deserves and expects more.
The richness and diversity of people’s views must continue to be a foundation, not an impediment for this process of improvement. Ukraine is capable of synthesizing the most creative and constructive solutions to its problems if it can capitalize on this strength through a mature, democratic and transparent debate. The political parties and politicians must root out the remaining servants of vested interests from their ranks and make the Rada the lighthouse of public service. The country’s judicial system must become a true bastion for the rule of law and dispense justice, not anything else. When Ukraine achieves this, the entire system, including the government, will be able to deliver better and faster what the people of Ukraine mandated and expect it to do.
The richness of virtue and the strength of Ukrainians, most amply demonstrated through civil society organizations, are hardly matched anywhere in the world. These organizations must continue to be the foundation for and drivers of the political, economic and social debate that elected politicians should use as a resource and guiding light. We must insist and hold them accountable that they do so.
The whole world knows that Ukraine has a tremendous human, natural resource, agriculture, technological and engineering potential that would allow it to raise its standard of living to that of the world’s advanced countries. It just has to take charge and create the right business and investment climate to realize this potential. I suspect this is one of the main reasons, next to an imperialistic and megalomaniac mindset, that underlies the ugly and intolerable foreign aggression that Ukraine has been facing. The aggressors know very well that they can’t stop Ukraine’s progress. They will run out of their malicious force in the face of Ukraine’s resolve to be prosperous, truly democratic and sovereign, in short, Ukrainian.
EBRD has been holding the above principles and objectives at heart in its engagement in Ukraine. I hope that I have been able to further strengthen this during my tenure. I stood up for the right principles, took a firm stance where and when needed, and helped channel here as much financial and intellectual resources as possible. I made a lot of personal sacrifice and took risks. I did all that because Ukraine deserves it and I love Ukraine.
I know that after I leave my post, the EBRD’s engagement will remain as intense as ever. I know this because we have the most fantastically talented and committed staff here in Ukraine and in London who share my passion for this country.
We have great partnership with the Ukrainian government, politicians and other stakeholders to continue working towards our common objectives. I would like to particularly thank President Poroshenko, the post-Maidan governments led by Prime Ministers Groysman and Yatsenyuk, and all my dear friends and supporters in the Cabinet of Ministers. I must also thank all the reform-minded, progressive members of the Rada. Most importantly, of course, I would like to thank the Ukrainian people for their support.
Lastly, good news or bad news, depending on your point of view: I don’t think I will ever be completely disconnected from Ukraine. Have faith in me, I will find ways to continue this love affair, with passion and for a long time to come…
Slava Ukraini!
Sevki Acuner has been the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s country director in Ukraine since 2013.
