Mayor Olexandr Omelchenko
Kiev has regained its glory and charm

‘Kiev to me, seems to be the most beautiful city in the world,’ remarked the world-famous author Paolo Coelho during a meeting in autumn of 2004 with Mayor Omelchenko. If one were to ask what was the main merit of the mayor and his team, the answer would be surprisingly simple: ‘They have returned this city to its glory and magic charm.'

Olexandr Omelchenko, as Mayor, has turned Kiev, with its ancient history and culture, into the one city that most deserves to be called the capital of this independent European state – a city that was acclaimed ‘the pearl of Europe’ at the Palace of Europe photo exhibition in Brussels.

But it has been a difficult task. When he was elected mayor in 1996, Kiev was in crisis, caused by the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the dismantling of an ineffective socialistic command-administrative economy. Courage and exceptional professionalism was required of the city authorities to tackle ambitious projects.

Over those years the people of Kiev realised that their city was in ‘safe hands’. Devotion to the charismatic mayor, who put the interests society first, repeatedly expressed itself during the elections, when the percentage of supporters reached 70 per cent.

This was confirmed by the state conferring the award of ‘Hero of Ukraine’ to the mayor and his team.

The name of Omelchenko is particularly associated with the renewal of ancient and famous cathedrals, the city’s heritage, that were ignored and neglected under Communism, as well as the renovation and alteration of the central square into the majestic Square of Independence. To make a society wealthy is not enough - it is of equal importance, if not more so, to make it spiritually and nationally conscious.

This natural leader’s qualities have demonstrated in practice the truth of his thesis – ‘a city that is being rebuilt means it is alive’. Scaled construction of all kinds, according to the principles of sustainable development, has created a feeling of good future prospects for the population, in turn attracting new investment.

Among the large-scale investment projects are the reconstruction of the city’s main street, Khreshchatyk, and the main square, the Square of Independence, freeing the centre from industrial enterprises. Then there has been the reconstruction of the massive, ugly and cramped apartment blocks of the 1960s; the building of a modern seven-kilometre bridge; and the reconstruction of the international airport and embankment. Kiev has succeeded in creating a favourable investment climate for all kinds and forms of business over a short time.

Despite intensive reconstruction, Kiev retains its unique charm as one of the greenest cities in the world, with parks, public gardens and reservoirs abounding in their hundreds. Over the past ten years not a single technogenic failure has occurred in Kiev.

A city thrives in conditions of political and social stability, including  religious tolerance, which was acknowledged by Pope John Paul on his second visit to Kiev.

Ukraine’s capital, in its journey of revival, has shown unprecedented high rates of industrial growth from 4 per cent to 26 per cent annually – undoubtedly the achievements of Olexandr Omelchenko and his team.

Deeply aware of the importance of local government, he initiated and became the main participant of the All-Ukrainian Movement for the Rights of Local Self-government.