Kuchma: 'Ukraine will be taken seriously only if we curb internal strife'

12:20, 31.01.2013 1 min read

Ukraine's second president, Leonid Kuchma (2005-2010), has said that Ukraine will be taken seriously in the world only when people in the country are more tolerant of the opinions of others and stop internal strife, the press service of the Ukraine Presidential Foundation reported on Wednesday.

Kuchma said this at a meeting with the heads of public organizations of the Ukrainian diaspora - a member of the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian-American Freedom Foundation, Petro Paliukh, and Chairman of the Council of Ukrainian Communities in Russia Mykola Liakh.

"Ukraine will be taken seriously in the world only if we curb internal strife and respect opposite views and the opinions of others. But it's also time for influential geopolitical players to stop talking with our state from a position of strength," the foundation quoted Kuchma as saying.

He also said that the public organizations of Ukrainians should play a greater role and help the process of state development and the recognition of Ukraine in the world.