Saakashvili calls on new government to carry out radical reforms, rely on local reformers

The new government should as quickly as possible carry out radical reforms in Ukraine relying on Ukrainian reformers who have already been put through their paces, Head of Odesa Regional Administration Mikheil Saakashvili has said.

"The first test [for the new Cabinet] is to enact reforms immediately, on the first day. As soon as they start to wobble: "let us understand," "let us evaluate," "we still have votes" – the reforms will end without starting," he said at the conference "The week of structural reforms in honor of Kakha Bendukidze" in Kyiv.

Saakashvili said that the test of the new government would be large-scale tax reform.

"The system of tax administration must be completely changed," he said, adding that radical reforms within two months will guarantee Ukraine a double-digit economic growth.

The official called on the government, when carrying out reforms, to rely on local officials who have shown what they can achieve, rather than on foreigners.