V.Y. I spent three days and nights to reconcile the team. Trust was the key problem. The team began degrading. It broke up into blocs that started to play independent games, undercover games, unpleasant games with photographing and blackmailing, et cetera, et cetera. In fact, unity of the team, was unfortunately questioned. Personal conflicts grew into team conflicts, affecting state affairs. Yesterday, this day and night, we were trying to find ways to preserve the team spirit and stay together. This could have been the best choice. And we agreed to move this way. Unfortunately, this agreement was breached last night . It was not me. There was an agreement that I should politically respond to those accusations which I believe are groundless but quite powerful. I told my colleagues: “I will dismiss key suspects because those PR accusations require my response. I must do that." I understand sources and reasons of this conflict of which we only have consequences on the surface. I spent three days to frankly speak with authors of these incidents. My aim was to make them shake hands to have a moderately settle the conflict through dismissal of people who are charged to fight against corruption, I mean, the NSDCU Secretary, and perhaps few people who obviously failed to work effectively. We wanted to response in a balanced way – this was our choice.

Who will be acting as Prime Minister?

V.Y. Today, I will commission Yuriy Ekhanurov to form the new Cabinet.

What can you say to all people who are disappointed over everything that is happening in the country or perhaps even disappointed in you for ruining the team?

V.Y. I think everything that is happening is a reflection of the existing process. I think this is not a political crisis. I believe this is a relationship crisis among politicians.

Mr. Yushchenko, can you say a few words about your new team. Do you think they will come here without their own schemes?

V.Y. I do not want journalists and politicians to play with such politically important topics.

Speaking, for instance, about corruption, I think it is wrong that a person who I trust and who fights against corruption at the Secretariat, claims about it without any evidence and investigation, not bringing a matter into court. Despite this, it requires consideration. Why? The new team is hit by what we spoke about in Maidan. Maidan ideals are depreciated. Friends, if this is true, I charged a committee a day before yesterday to consider all facts to say whether he is corrupt or not. I am convinced, there will be no evidence. However, the subject is broached by the team – not by the opposition. The purpose of this topic was to radically ruin and fundamentally change the team. I cannot look at that. These are elements of incorrect behavior. When we speak about government and business, my friends, I would like to say this does not mean that poor people should work at the Cabinet. It means that businessmen do not use their power to organize business. That’s it! If there are such facts, I would ask people who are in charge of that to speak about it in public. But I think it is a tragedy for a person who is 31 or 39 years old to wear a corruption tag without any evidence, for these people want to work for their country for years. To be honest, I do not want these three days to ever happen again.

Mr. Yushchenko, will Tymoshenko and Poroshenko stay in your team despite their dismissal? 

V.Y. I want them to stay in the team. This question must be analyzed. I think nobody can answer it fast. I want to say one thing: if they can work together, if they can change their behavior, I will appreciate these people. These are important personalities for our history. I respect their opinion but I have only one requirement: they must work as one team. I do not want intrigues between the two people to lead to state problems.

Mr. President, does “working as one team” mean forming one election bloc?

V.Y. Yes, though I would say it is possible there will be a different format. When we speak about a coalition, we must speak about a common electoral platform. It does not matter whether  we go as a bloc or coalition of parties. The main thing is the demand which I will never give up. There should be team work without any intrigues. I want to save the state from conflicts that have been unfolding for nine months among some people who I respect. They are still my friends. I respect them. But I respect and love my country more.

Mr President, what will happen to Olexandr Tretyakov?

V.Y. Well, today I will sign a decree to suspend him from duty while his case is investigated.

And what about Turchynov?

V.Y. ...Turchynov, I will consult the experts.

(...)

V.Y. In this case there was a different goal. I am convinced: this team, including the current Cabinet, NSDCU and President’s Secretariat will not be able to elaborate a state strategy and state policy unless it speeds up Ukraine’s development – this is fatal weakening. I would like to say again: relationship in the past eight months started to disappoint you, me and 48 million people. We must stop this disappointment and we should save the Maidan ideals from being questioned. And when it happens... and when Mykola Tomenko comments on the Gongadze case,… you see, perhaps in these five months we have done more than in the past four years. Now we know who is accused of this murder but we do not know who ordered that crime. We understand that the people who trusted me appeared and they agreed to testify. However, it is much more difficult to answer who ordered this crime. I am convinced we will find the answer, we just need more time to investigate the case.