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2 No.48 SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 DAY AFTER DAY WWW.DAY.KIEV.UA By Ivan KAPSAMUN, The Day Weheard no “new and surprising things” presidential faction representatives had announced in Petro Poroshenko’s address to the Verkhovna Rada. As always, we can appreciate the good work of speechwriters, but, judging by the speech, there will hardly be any radical changes in the approaches to the head of state’s policies. The only difference is that the address was shorter and generally comprised the main directions of Poroshenko’s upcoming election campaign. Incidentally, he did not announce, contrary to some expectations, the intention to run for the presidency again. In all probability, he will choose a different, more favorable, moment to do so. Here are some of the president’s chief messages: “I request you to support amendments to the Fundamental Law on irreversibility of the course towards Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO. “It is proposed that the clause that allows the Black Sea to base in Ukraine be deleted from the Constitution. “Ukraine has issued 10 million biometric passports. “I have brought into force the National Security and Defense Council’s decision not to extend the treaty on the so-called friendship with Russia. “Ukraine has closed its representation at the constituent bodies of the so-called Commonwealth. “The Ecumenical Patriarch’s envoys have arrived in Kyiv to prepare a decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church. “The National Television and Radio Council has published a report on Ukrainian-language quotas for radio stations. “I hope you will approve innovations to military regulations, which introduce the longawaited salute ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ – ‘Glory to Heroes!’ by October 14, Defender of Ukraine Day. “Each of these events confirms our break with the colonial past. Each of them is a step towards our full freedom from the empire.” Then the president in fact further explained and supplemented the abovementioned directions, repeating the slogans written on By Alla DUBROVYK-ROKHOVA, The Day The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine has presented, with support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Ukraine’s first export brand which will help market Ukrainian products worldwide. “Export brands strongly influence the country’s positive image. In other words, the stronger the brand of Ukraine is, the more successful Ukrainian export will be. It is a credit of trust in a commodity. At the same time, we are speaking of Ukraine as a reliable partner of other countries. The mission of an export brand is to project a strong image of Ukraine as a reliable partner in the world. It is a platform for building and strengthening the positions of Ukrainian exporters on the global market,” Stepan Kubiv, First Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, said. Project initiators promise that from now on every Ukrainian exporter can use the reputation of all the other Ukrainian exporters irrespective of the economic sector. In Kubiv’s words, the export brand of Ukraine will establish a stable visual link between various segments of the economy by applying the same style to the goods and services of different ranges and types. “For example, the success of Ukrainian IT will help other Ukrainian exporters, export commodities and services enter international markets and form class, quality, and innovativeness,” he pointed out. billboards throughout the country: “Army, language, and faith are not a slogan. It is a formula of contemporary Ukrainian identity. The army defends our land. The language defends our heart. The church defends our soul.” “Consider that you heard all the 70 minutes of Poroshenko’s speech – his address to himself, which he has failed to fulfill in the past four years,” MP Aliona Shkrum writes on her FB page. “It’s interesting to watch the atmosphere in the parliament hall. MPs do not listen much and chat with one another. The present government members think about something personal. The premier cannot hide outright boredom and sometimes laughter. I can understand him. For some reason, it is mostly women from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc who listen attentively. They feel it awkward to use cell phones and take a nap, as men do. Poroshenko repeats 20 times his mantra about the army, the faith, and the language. He reads off the teleprompter: ‘We failed, unfortunately, to end the war… We failed to… – ‘Sell Roshen,’ some MPs behind me prompt. People smile. ‘Don’t smuggle capital out! Invest in the country!’ This causes a burst of laughter.” The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade presents Ukraine’s first export brand Photo by Artem SLIPACHUK, The Day Where are the promised surprises? Trade with Ukraine Expert: “President Poroshenko’s address to parliament in fact voiced his main election messages” Poroshenko did not forget about the future elections either. “As a president, I guarantee the free, fair, and democratic elections of the head of state, a new parliament, and local government bodies,” he said. Meanwhile, the latest survey data show that Poroshenko’s rating is 9.9 percent among those who have made their choice and will vote and 7.1 percent among all of the polled people (third place). As before, Yulia Tymoshenko ranks first with 18 (13) percent, followed by Anatolii Hrytsenko with 10.4 (7.5) percent. Experts estimate that the main rivalry will be between Tymoshenko and Poroshenko, but it is not ruled out that other candidates may fray the leaders’ nerves. These are the abovementioned Hrytsenko, Yurii Boiko, and even Oleh Liashko, to say nothing about showman Kubiv also said the export brand would be first presented at the national stand of Ukraine at a large-scale China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 5-10. The first vice-premier emphasized that the brand’s creation “did not cost the Ukrainian budget a single kopeck.” According to Stefan Schleuning, Team Leader on Financial Cooperation, Support Group for Ukraine at the European Commission, the total cost of financing the brand was about 50,000 euros. “The European Union allocated this money as part of the EU4Business initiative,” he said. Photo by Artem SLIPACHUK, The Day Volodymyr Zelenskyi and singer Sviatoslav Vakarchuk if they choose to run in the race. Coming back to the president’s speech, we can note another particularity which still remains crucial. “How many nice words which run counter to reality and disguise the desire to defeat opponents and remain in power at any price!” MP Taras Batenko wrote in a social media. How do experts appraise the president’s Address to the Verkhovna Rada “On the Internal and External Situation in Ukraine in 2018?” ● “TO SOME EXTENT, THE SUBJECT OF REFORMS AND THE ECONOMY HAS RECEDED TO THE BACKGROUND” Petro OLESHCHUK, political scientist: “This is a pre-election statement, rather than a presidential address. He in fact voiced his main election messages. We can see that emphasis will be put on patriotic rhetoric, face-off with Russia, and the religious question. I think all of these things will be reflected in the president’s election program and further statements. To some extent, the subject of reforms and the economy has receded to the background, but we heard some symbolic promises the fulfillment of which the president will not have to account for. For example, he called Russia Muscovy – this political position is of great symbolic importance and shows that the president is resisting the aggressor. He did not say whether he would be running for the presidency, maybe, because his team is so far afraid to make a false start. For if he announces his participation in the elections, his next steps will proceed from this only. But now he can maneuver and does not afford grounds to speak that he does not fulfill his presidential duties. “The step towards constitutional amendments, as far as European and Euro-Atlantic integration is concerned, is also a political positioning. But it should not be forgotten that these amendments are not a mandatory condition for joining NATO. Integration into this organization is impossible without the consent of the Alliance itself and the political will on the part of the Ukrainian leadership. Of course, the populace should take a positive attitude to this and certain standards are to be met. However, making certain changes to the Constitution will not guarantee a political will or inevitable admission because power constantly changes in Ukraine, as do the priorities. Accordingly, any decision can be revised. We can remember the way constitutional reform was canceled under Yanukovych. Figu- Ukrainian Cabinet adopts sanctions The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted proposals concerning “special personal economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)” against 35 Russian publishing companies in Ukraine that keep producing “anti-Ukrainian materials.” According to the Press Service of the State Television and Radio Committee, the draft resolution reads that such sanctions are to be submitted to the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO). Such sanctions will be imposed on Russian-language publishing companies found to have been producing anti-Ukrainian materials on a regular basis. Media reports say the State Television and Radio Committee has been closely watching for such anti-Ukrainian productions for the past three years and there is a list of such publishers, that their publications are aimed at destroying Ukrainian national independence, inciting interreligious and interethnic violence, as well as acts of terrorism – all this contrary to universally recognized human rights and freedoms. A report dated August 15, 2018, lists 167 publications put out by 35 Russian publishing companies. This Cabinet decision is emphatically aimed at ensuring Ukraine’s national interests, defense, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and an independent economy.
WWW.DAY.KIEV.UA DAY AFTER DAY No.48 SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 3 ratively speaking, if Boiko becomes president tomorrow, nothing will prevent them from revising constitutional changes. I think NATO is also very well aware of this. Therefore, by all accounts, this decision carries nothing but the president’s declarations.” ● “I APPRAISE THIS MESSAGE POSITIVELY” Vitalii BALA, director, Situations Modeling Agency: “The speech was rather short – up to an hour, which is good for perception. It is also positive that the president spoke about his shortcomings because others usually emphasize their achievements. By all accounts, the clear-cut statements we can see on billboards – ‘Army, Language, Faith’ – also occurred in the speech, which shows accents in the domestic policy. On the whole, I appraise this message positively. I feared that the speech would be the beginning of the president’s election campaign, but this did not happen. And this is good.” ● “ON THE WHOLE, I AM DISAPPOINTED… HE COULD HAVE DONE MORE IF HE WERE A PRESIDENT, NOT A BUSINESSMAN IN THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT” Serhii HARMASH, editor-in-chief, online publication OstroV (facebook.com): “I heard the president’s address to parliament. Where are the promised surprises? It’s one of the many pre-election speeches of a presidential candidate in front of the TV and radio audience with subtle jibes against other presidential candidates. Nothing new – just a list of his own achievements and general words about long-term strategic goals! Everything has been said hundreds of times. Even the figures of speech are the same. There are neither concrete things about the Donbas (except for the claim that there is no alternative, as before, to Minsk) nor any prospects for the liberation of Crimea. But there is a warning that UN peacekeepers should be stationed throughout Ukraine. “There are also some alarming tendencies. He speaks of democracy, but, judging by the number of times he mentioned the Tomos, the impression is that those who do not go to church (any church) will soon be pronounced agents of Moscow. The same applies to those who speak Russian. It’s a clear misconception of patriotism and nationalism. I favor the official status of the Ukrainian language and autocephaly of the Ukrainian church, for Ukraine will not exist without this. But if the state puts the factors that differentiate us from other countries and peoples above the economic wellbeing of people and common human values, this state is doomed to self-isolation and self-destruction. The point is that this works in wartime, but you can’t possibly fight eternally. People get tired of a war that has no prospects of victory. But we are talking about war but not even striving for victory – neither in the Donbas nor in the economic battles with Russia. This is why the military do not see the reason why they are stationed there, while trade turnover with the aggressor is growing. “The Opposition Bloc and Poroshenko are telling us about peace without victory and war without victory, respectively. Not exactly rosy prospects… This is why people are leaving this country. ‘Do the oxen bellow, when their mangers are full?’ Those old women in Luhansk and Crimea wouldn’t be running about with Russian flags in hand, if pensions in Ukraine were higher than in Russia. But we, instead of ‘filling the mangers,’ are adorning them with patriotic slogans. On the whole, I am disappointed. Poroshenko is perhaps not the worst president. He must have done very much. But he could and was to have done much more if he were a president, not a businessman in the office of president.” Learning to think business UF Incubator helps teenagers’ innovative ideas come true By Mariia PROKOPENKO, photos by Mykola TYMCHENKO, The Day want a compliment or the truth?” asked an expert after the launch of another project in the All-Ukrainian School UF Incubator StartUp Week Finals. “You In fact, experts and potential investors were frank and friendly. Ten teams of senior high school students had spent a week working on inventions before submitting them to the jury – a board of experts. The event took place at the UNIT.City Park of Innovations in Kyiv. Below are brief interviews with some of the contestants and members of the jury. ● INVENT AND DEFEND A total of 27 senior high school students were selected for the first government-run business school known as UF Incubator, based on the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The organizing committee selected most interesting and practical innovative projects dealing with the economy. The contestants were divided into teams, each made up of the author of the project, a financier, and a marketologist. The first challenge was to quickly put together an effective team, considering that its members were total stranger. Business trainers, scholars, and market experts spent a week coaching the teenagers. Their main task was to teach them lean production [a systematic method for waste minimization – aka Muda – within a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity – Ed.]. Vitalii LISOVYI, Project UF Incubator Coordinator: “The kids met within the project’s limited time frame. They prepared their startups, using their projects. Today, we have prototypes, I mean effective solutions. Our children don’t make scholarly presentations like during an inter-college intellectual competition. They submit their projects to the potential investor. Our emphasis is on teaching them to think business, to sell and defend their ideas. Among our tutors was an expert on intellectual property rights. Our project isn’t about scholarly projects. It’s about starting in business, being prepared at an early stage. Expert opinions during the finals will help some upgrade their projects or work out new ones. Each team has been invited to take part in the international forum Innovation Market.” ● BLOGGERS’ HIT Viktor DOLGOPIATOV, Everest Group of Companies, was very impressed by the three high school students’ Project Explore Your Mind in the UF Incubator StartUp Finals. Its neural network selects music for videos and even generates a new track: “The whole idea is really great!” Nazar PONOCHEVNYI, author of the project (the other two team members are Mykola LY- SENKO and Yulia SALII, both from Konotop, a town in Sumy oblast): “On the first day of the competition, each author of the project submits it. The financiers and marketologists who like it raise their hands and tell what they could do to help the project. Then the author of the project selects his team.” His team members are into music. Nazar plays the piano and composes electronic music. Mykola plays the ordinary and button accordion, and is learning to play the guitar. Yulia is attending a music school, majoring in the guitar. Mykola Lysenko: “A number of project authors have upgraded their ideas this week. Our Project Explore Your Mind was first meant for scientists, but then it occurred to us that it could be used by bloggers in the first place. Just imagine them using and advertising it! We could become as popular as a first class TV show!” Nazar adds that the idea was conceived a long time ago, when he started thinking about the kind of music that would best reflect his sentiments and his attitude to what was happening around him. Then he shelved it – until there appeared music-composing programs. It was then he realized he had to keep working on his project, upgrading it, including his own audio or video track. Mykola Lysenko doesn’t hide his enthusiasm: “Our product has no analogs and it can be implemented technologically. If we don’t do this now, someone else will do it, in six or twelve months.” Yulia Salii, the team’s marketologist, says that the blogger’s profession is a product of the 21st century and that their project will help it: “I once helped a blogger, editing his videos. It was really tough. The music would be good, but the lyrics would be way behind, or the other way around. Also, I couldn’t use my playlist. I had to make do with what was considered a top hit that best fitted the video.” Nazar says there are lots of similar programs and that all it takes is reconfiguring them a bit, unifying them, and producing the final neuro network model that will integrate all music and video characteristics, ending up in harmony. Probably the biggest project would be one with a database with top commercials, music, and characteristics analysis. Nazar wants freelancers and teenagers for his project. ● IDEAS AND COMMANDS Anatolii KHRAMCHENKO, Shostka, Sumy oblast, demonstrates a WI rotor wind turbine model. It can be used on modern highways. The way it works is simple: the speeding cars create a wind stream, the generator rotates, and the mechanical energy is converted into electricity. Anatolii proposed a generator made of vinyl plastics, but after the launch and after hearing experts say that it would be a long time before his device paid off, he will most likely look for other options. In his own words, “alternative power engineering is quite popular. The wind turbines are expensive and what I propose is a relatively inexpensive analog. The government could install such rotor wind turbines alongside highways. Private home owners could have several such turbines on the roof and this would save them money in terms of electricity bills. One such turbine mounted by a highway could generate electricity enough for a home, depending on the traffic, of course.” When working on an innovative project, team work is about as important as the innovative idea. According to Viktor Dolgopiatov, “the idea may turn out to be not so good, but the team will remain topnotch. If you can keep this team working in the right direction, the result will be rewarding. There are also cases when the idea is as bad as the team working on it, yet the people are determined to achieve some results. In such cases you have to figure out what has brought these people together, what’s making them work on their startup. Take a look around. Same economic dislocation. Nothing has practically changed behind the official, outwardly attractive, facade over the years. What will happen in 20 years if we don’t start investing in our future now? Half the people on this planet are talking Mars, and we keep talking street market potatoes, that the price is up today, compared to yesterday. We have to start paying serious attention to such issues now, because we’ll have no time for this later.” ● YOUNGER GENERATION, PROPERLY TRAINED Oksen LISOVYI, Director, Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, says UF Incubator is in possession of the former Movie Theater Yerevan on Chokolivskyi Blvd., that paperwork is in progress, aimed at revitalizing the premises, that repair is underway and is expected to be completed before September 2019. Also, there is hope for receiving funds from the state: “This is a state-budget-financed project. We’re waiting for the 2019 budget bill [to be passed by parliament]. We hope that it will be financed by the state. We’ve done all the legally required paperwork and we have our Prime Minister’s support.” A total of 32 teams of high school students are expected to be handled by UF Incubator on Chokolivskyi Blvd. this year. Oksen Lisovyi: “The younger generation, properly trained, is the main purpose of the Small Academy and UF Incubator. This project is aimed at producing individuals with a higher IQ. The current event is being held in a friendly atmosphere, but we’re making our priorities clear; we need the kind of experience our children will need in order to implement their ideas. Our children can receive this experience in high school, before enrolling in college/university, before receiving their academic degrees and embarking on their first startups, aged 25-27, and confronting unfriendly investors. In other words, our children stand a chance of winning success much earlier than their peers outside our project.”
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