UK Official’s Comment Ugly… Yet Accurate. Boris Johnson, Former UK Prime Minister, Didn’t Receive Berlin “Converge, Not Compete” Memo Or Ignoring It In Pursuit Of Promotion And Financial Gain?
Boris Johnson, Former UK Prime Minister, Did Not Receive “Converge, Not Compete” Memo From Berlin, Did Not Read It, Or Is He Self-Servingly Ignoring It In Pursuit Of Self-Promotion And Financial Gain? Unfortunately, Government Of Ukraine Remains Addicted To “More Is Better” Philosophy.
From Berlin Discussants: Governments should “Converge, not Compete” and there were already “too many ‘Marshall Plans’” as “Governments want to put their name on things.”
From a senior-level official of the United Kingdom: “No need worry about corruption following financial support into Ukraine, the corruption will have long been engrained prior to reaching its borders as persons, former this and former that, use their paws to extract payments and enrich themselves. Wait until Kyiv’s airport re-opens… the number of private aircraft transporting the powerful and influential, and those who gravitate adhesively to them will overwhelm it. Pity the citizens of Ukraine. The theft of meaningful slices of the US$300 billion that may be directed towards Ukraine will make the Royal Mail’s Great Train Robbery of 1963 look like a corner store holdup- by a child with a toy gun.”
First…
On 20 October 2022, the government of Ukraine could not control itself and used its Twitter account to insert itself into the United Kingdom’s (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) domestic political process by posting an image of Boris Johnson, Prime Minister (2019-2022) of the United Kingdom, with the phrase “Better Call Boris” a reference to the title of a since-ended television program in the United States “Better Call Saul” about a endemically corrupt attorney (whose clients included a drug kingpin) who eventually is imprisoned. The former prime minister, who visited Ukraine twice in 2022, was considering seeking again the office to which his Conservative Party colleagues had forced his resignation days earlier due to issues including about his character and veracity.
Next In Succession….
From the London, United Kingdom-based Daily Mail newspaper (26 October 2022): “Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly considering setting up a charitable fund to raise money for war-torn Ukraine as he tries to boost his image on the global stage. Following his departure from No10, Mr Johnson is rumoured to be planning a global career while still sitting in the House of Commons for his constituents in Uxbridge. A source close to the former PM told the Telegraph last night that he will set up a 'marshal plan for Ukraine', raising 'loads of money' from private donors.”
From the London, United Kingdom-based The Telegraph newspaper (26 October 2022): “Johnson has also set up his own office, likely to be the vehicle for accepting earnings, registering The Office of Boris Johnson Ltd with Companies House. Wants to create “Marshall Plan” for Ukraine. This is taking the form of a new office in Westminster, the heart of British politics, which Johnson intends to use as a base to launch a foundation which will raise money for reconstruction in the Eastern European country, according to The Telegraph — a newspaper close to the Tories which has previously employed him. “Boris will raise loads of money” for a so-called “Marshall plan for Ukraine”, according to a “friend” of the ex-premier who spoke to the newspaper. Although he does not hold an official role in government, the former PM was appointed to the head of a committee which supports the nation at the Conservative Party Conference last month.”
Which Was Preceded By…
The day previous, 25 October 2022, in Berlin, Germany, the leadership of the European Commission (EC) representing the twenty-seven member countries of the European Union (EU), heads of state (four; two virtually- including the President of Ukraine), heads of government (three- including the Prime Minister of Ukraine (accompanied by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Communities and Territories Development); one virtually), representatives of international financial institutions, experts from think tanks, and participants from non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) convened at the Westhafen Event and Convention Center (WECC) for the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine hosted by the government of Germany (which holds the current G7 presidency- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United States, United Kingdom) and the EC.
And what was the foundational opinion of discussants at the conference? That governments should “Converge, Not Compete” and there were already “too many ‘Marshall Plans’” as “Governments want to put their name on things.”
Did Mr. Johnson not get the memo?
Like public sector addicts seeking a self-promotional fix, unsurprisingly expected are announcements by other governments along with public sector financial institutions (World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Central Bank (ECB), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), etc.) for conferences, symposiums, gatherings, dialogues, expositions, and colloquies at which government officials will tout taxpayer-funded disbursements directed towards Ukraine- and the opportunities for companies located outside of Ukraine to participate in projects within Ukraine. Companies located within Ukraine will too have their perspective as to who should do what within the territory (however measured). The race, marathon, has commenced as company executives, and the lobbyists and advocates they retain, seek a piece of a US$300+ billion multi-year construction pie the world’s largest thus far…
Consequential Conference Take-Aways
There was unanimity among the two hundred participants (and 124 government representatives) that corruption and lack of democracy and lack of transparency remains in Ukraine post-24 February 2022 as it has since 1991 and again past 2014 and through recent elections. NOTE: There were two reserved seats for representatives of the United States Government: Mike Pyle, Deputy National Security Advisor at The White House, and a colleague. Neither official’s presence was announced; some other government officials questioned the low profile considering the higher profile three months ago at a similarly-themed conference in Lugano, Switzerland. Some of the most insightful panelist comments:
“Ukraine must have a democratic transformation.”
“Ukraine must continue its democratic transformation in order for European integration to be a reality.”
“Democratic reform not implemented after 2014.”
“Since 1991, choice by successor governments in Ukraine toward command-control like U.S.S.R. has hampered development and transformation of the economy.”
“Energy is the poster-child of corruption in Ukraine. Solution: 1) Integration into EU market- business practices. 2) Coordination of international assistance (Ramstein Format possible). 3) Use donor funds to leverage private capital.”
“Investment Funds should manage the state budget of Ukraine to mitigate corruption.”
“For Ukraine to be bankable there must be substantial reforms.”
“Investment projects must be bankable not only supportable.”
“We lend money, and we want money back.”
“Need predictability in money deliveries.”
“Donor competition is a problem”
“Converge, not compete. There are too many ‘Marshall Plans’ as governments want to put their name on things.”
“Ukraine was immensely corrupt prior to the invasion by Russia on February 24th [2022]. The war has not miraculously vaporized that thirty-plus year developed DNA. Everyone needs to remember this.”
These specific messages which represented the theme throughout the day were uncomfortable for representatives of the government of Ukraine. Yet, they served an important purpose- a welcomed speed brake and reality check for too much self-congratulation and “thank you for your leadership…” by one official to another official. Disturbing remains, however, that the thus far virtually-created USS Ukraine supply vessel has yet to be budgeted, let alone designed or constructed, and some government officials in Berlin (as some also did at the previous conference in Lugano) were commenting about how much they enjoyed the inaugural cruise. This is cart-before-the-horse thinking on steroids.
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