U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt has called on Ukrainian politicians to put Ukrainians' interests above their own and press forward on vital reforms. "Ukraine's stable, secure and prosperous future will require the sustained efforts of a broad and inclusive team of dedicated professionals who put the Ukrainian people's interests above their own. It is important that Ukraine's leaders set aside their parochial differences, put the vested interests that have hindered the country's progress for decades squarely in the past, and press forward on vital reforms," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "As my Ambassadorial colleagues and I said, we were deeply disappointed by the resignation of Minister for Economic Development and Trade Aivaras Abromavicius, who has delivered real reform results for Ukraine. During the past year, Abromavicius and his professional team made important strides – implementing tough but necessary economic reforms to help stabilize Ukraine's economy, root out endemic corruption, bring Ukraine into compliance with its IMF program obligations, and promote more openness and transparency in government," he said while commenting on recent developments related to the Ukrainian government. Pyatt says that more can and must be done, particularly in the area of corruption. "The Prosecutor's Office, for instance, must hold thieves accountable for the criminal plunder of the state, and truly empower an independent Inspector General to put an end to corruption within the PGO. Legislation has been passed, people have been appointed. Now is the time for action. The world is watching, and Ukrainians in every oblast are watching," he said. Another issue the ambassador flagged for 2016 is work by the Cabinet of Ministers to accelerate the pace of deregulation and create an environment that fosters both domestic and external investment. "It's increasingly clear that Ukrainian consumers alone cannot fill the hole created by the nearly 12% GDP contraction in 2015. Foreign investment can and should make up much of the difference, but will only do so if it's crystal clear that the 'old Ukraine' of bribes, regulation and appropriation has been put behind us," he said. The full interview in English will be posted on Interfax-Ukraine's website at http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/interview.html.