Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is insisting that the Ministry of Economy put together a general plan for flood recovery in two weeks.

She stated this today during a meeting in Ivano-Frankivsk with representatives of local governments from the affected oblasts.

Tymoshenko stressed that the general plan should be put together on the basis of information received from the regions about destruction in the regions.

First of all, the general plan should include damaged local and national roads, damaged bridges, gas and electric networks, and public facilities.

A separate section of the plan should address reforming water services.

She stressed that the general plan should be ready for Cabinet approval in two weeks.

In addressing local government, Yulia Tymoshenko underscored that all reconstruction work should be done well.

“We’re not so rich that we can simply patch holes,” stressed Tymoshenko, noting that all work should be done taking into consideration a repeat situation in the future with an adequate level of durability.

In addition, she called on representatives of local government to be honest with allocated funds, “so that not a single kopeck is stolen.”

She stressed that nothing will be bought centrally – not construction material or equipment needed to liquidate the consequences of the natural disaster; everything that is necessary will be bought by local government with allocated funds. She informed local governments that they should already start looking for suppliers of necessary materials, even before the arrival of money.

The Premier also called on local government bodies to not drag out work on restoring gas and electricity to regions that were hit by the flood and turn off gas and electricity in areas where they were turned off, as soon as the opportunity arises.

In addition, she asked ministers and other members of the government to get in touch with local government representatives upon first request.

She noted that if she receives information that a government officials for unacceptable reasons refused to contact a representative of local government from the affected oblasts, he will be fired within 24 hours.

Tymoshenko asked ministers and their deputies who are accompanying the Premier on her trip to give the number of the hotlines they set up at the end of their speeches.