MEP Buzek: Only political force that doesn't fear losing elections can reform Ukraine

Only a political force that holds responsibility above their short-term interests and doesn't fear failure at next elections will be able to take Ukraine through difficult but crucial reforms, the former president of the European Parliament, ex-premier of Poland and current member of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek (the European People's Party), has said.

"If political leaders in Ukraine want to go through difficult but crucial reforms, they have to place responsibility above their short-term interests. Implementing deep reforms is always risky, since it is accompanied by a possibility of losing the next election. People are naturally change-resistant, and that is why reforms inspire objection or even anger, which may reflect in the electoral polls. It is the responsibility of every politician to think not only about the current situation but also on the future perspective and to take, if necessary, difficult decisions," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Buzek noted that his government and coalition decided to go through very politically dangerous reforms in the 1990s and failed at the next elections.

"But only three years later, in the elections to the European Parliament, I and many of my colleagues from my previous cabinet gained strong support from people who realized how the reforms had improved everyday life in Poland," he said.

Citing his own experience of being prime minister, the politician said that a ruling coalition should never shy away from a continuous dialogue with the opposition.

"It is always probable that today's opposition will be responsible for governing the country in the future. Therefore, we should always treat our political opponents with great respect, think about country's best and not jeopardize success of the reforms in name of political battles," Buzek said.

When asked whether he will again participate in the elections to the European Parliament in 2014, Buzek said he did not exclude any option.

"However a third term as an MEP would be a natural and logical continuation of [my] two previous mandates in the European Parliament," he said.

The MEP also said that he had a long history of personal engagement in Ukraine.

"As the president of the European Parliament I treated Ukraine as one of my overriding priorities. As a European I feel responsible for bilateral relations between the EU and Ukraine and as a Pole - between Poland and Ukraine, and this will never change," Buzek said.

The full text of the interview will be posted on the Web site of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency