Rector Grygorii Kaletnik, who is the Head of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University since 2010, recently has been elected as the President of the University. The new position includes not so much a guidance directly of the university, as the coordination of a number of different organizations, that are reporting to several ministries and are combined in a cluster structure. Such a union should help each of the participants to move towards global standards in education, science and practical application of scientific developments. Well, it should be mentioned, that Grygorii Kaletnik for many years has been one of the most influential and respected people in our region, so interview with him -  is a godsend for any publication.
- Grygorii Mykolaiovych, at a conference of the labor collective, when there was a voting, you talked about the prospects of the university, including the amalgamation of educational and research institutions into a single structure. Thus, Vinnytsia National Agrarian University will change the name in the near future?
- The name of the university will not be changed. Vinnytsia National Agrarian University is and will be. The concern is that the creation of new association, such a practice exists abroad, does not predict the cancellation of the legal entity of research institutes, research farms or universities. The selected format allows to use the potential of the different institutions in order to achieve a higher level of development as a whole and of each association in the new structure.
Its mission is aimed at solving a number of problems. The main one - is the development of scientific activity. Only on the basis of scientific achievements we can create new technologies in agriculture, new curricula for students, who in near future should become the staff potential for work with the latest elaborations. Today candidates of sciences and doctors are more concentrated at the universities. There, they are focused on teaching, pedagogy, although thay have got the degree as a result of research findings. So it turns out that their status is used only to improve the teaching activities, and meanwhile we are losing a huge potential for the development of science ... It is wasteful for the country.
Civilization "is holding itself" on scientific discoveries. For example, thanks to the scientific discoveries of Sergii Koroliov the special courses for astronauts appeared in our country. However, there is much less experts with advanced degrees at the research institutes. Therefore, the idea of our association is to concentrate the whole scientific potential, which is now engaged solely in teaching activities, with the potential scientific base, which is available at the Scientific-Research Institute. Such a compound of potentials of science and scientists in the cluster will create and develop new ideas, and at their base we shall form an integrated curriculum for training of future specialists. Such a plan can be implemented in a non-standard management scheme. According to the law "On Higher Education", the rector should be responsible solely for the implementation of educational programs of the university. Director of the scientific-research institute and other leaders will be responsible only for scientific achievements. There are no academies of science in Europe and the United States, they have universities, where the leadership functions are distributed among the deans and the president. Dean  is dealing with the teaching process, while the president heads the practical, scientific and research basis, which are components of the university.
Therefore, despite a single coordination , VNAU, research institutes and other structures will be saved. By the way, we create a research institute of biomass and biofuels outside of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (NAANU). It receives the status of a legal entity, and its founders are VNAU, as well as French and German institutions that we have cooperated with.
In addition, together we are going to open a Ukrainian-German-French school of biofuels in Vinnytsia. We plan that it will concentrate its work in this particular market direction - from the creation and adaptation of new biofuel technologies to its sales. Again, it will be a separate structure, where the university will perform certain functions.
- How many entities do you plan to "collect" in this union?
- Now there is an agreement with six research farms, scientific-research institute of sugar beet and concern "Ukrspirt" on the transfer to us of one of the factories for the production of bioethanol.
- Are there analogues of such an association in Ukrainian higher education?
- No. This is a pilot project.
- Higher educational institutions are subordinated to the Ministry of Education,   Research Institutes – to profile ministries. Does your association foresee dual subordination?
- The union will be subordinated to the co-ordinating body, which will be set up by organizations, that would enter it. Therefore, all structures will remain their subordination. For example, Research Institute will remain in the structure of NAANU as a self-governing organization. The plant will save the subordination of the concern. Research households, will save the subordination of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, Ministry of Transportation or other agencies, will continue to obey them. There will be no changes in the structure of foreign institutions too.
The coordinating body will be headed by the president. Representatives of each of the side in the union will have an opportunity to manage the union. Long-term leading for one person is inappropriate. Judge for yourself, Rector determines the ministry and signs a contract with it. That is, there is a direct dependence at any time with the help of levers of influence on official person there may be attempts to influence the whole union. That’s why , there is a  search for ways on how to avoid any influence. A position of the president is elective, and he is accountable only to the staff, who elected him. Therefore, the President is independent from ministerial instructions.
- Does it include he is in depended from the minister too?
- Believe me, the instructions reach the minister in the best case just prepared. Usually everything is solved by lower-level officials. They write hundreds of instructions. Minister has no time to deal with it – he is a political figure. They agree with him the instructions and they bind anything they want to his head’s nod .The result is that the Minister has given the nod to a single document, but three volumes of instructions appear. This is our reality. The Minister can not read everything, that has been prepared for signature by ten subordinate departments, where work about 500 employees.
- The university staff plans to finish building of the 6th floor in the 5th academic building in the ploscha of Gagarina, to build the Palace of Sports in Soniachna street. What investments are necessary for the implementation of these plans, and what are the terms?
- We have the experience and practice in the sphere of finishing of building. Since 2010 we have finished the building of two full floors above the 1st, 2nd and 3^rd academic buildings were added. Each project took a year. In 2013, we have another interesting project. I have promised it to our staff, which counts nearly 800 members (besides 80% of them are women). Also nearly 3-3,5 thousand of students  who study at our university - are women. That’s why we should create adequate conditions of life for our women, so we are going to organize a beauty salon.
In addition, since we have completely solved the problem of heating in the university, and it's warm inside in winter, we need to keep over clothes somewhere. It is irrationally to do coat check in each building, so we want to connect the three buildings with transitions and equip a single wardrobe. We shall try to find the means to implement these ideas this year, and in 2014 we shall start the building of the additional flour of the 5th academic building. Classrooms and laboratory training fund for the training process in one shift is completely secured in the 5th academic building, so we are going to place a school of biofuels there.
As for the Sports Palace, this idea is of total regional value. We have a good achievements in sports, but more on the amateur level. I have always supported sports. When I worked in the budget committee, I contributed allocation of millions of UAN to purchase artificial turf for the stadium in Gorkyi Park . Once I helped the football team "Niva". Today, the university’s volleyball team is playing in the men's Super League of Ukraine. That’s why , we need a modern multifunctional sports complex in Vinnytsia.
I was supported by the deputies, representing different regions, we have signed a joint letter to the Prime Minister on the allocation of funds for this project. Now the letter is considered by the Head of the Parliament. I think that we will meet and explain that all our young people, but not only students need this sport complex. It is a rather important building for all citizens of Vinnytsia.
- Domes for the future church are ready. When do you plan to start the construction of the building?
- A religious community, which I support is engaged in the construction of the future church. The church will be built this year by funds of its patrons. Frankly speaking, the hardest part was to get all the permits from officials. Now our plans have changed a little bit and we decided to make the church more interesting architecturally.

- If I am not mistaken, in the Parliament of the 4th convocation You lobbied the topic of production of bio-ethanol at the domestic distilling plants with the aim of saving of the industry. Last year the government heard You and initiated compulsory inclusion of the fillers with spirit contain into the gasoline. Does it somehow changed the situation in state enterprises of alcohol industry?

- You heard me in the Cabinet of Ministers before. For the first time the government supported me on this issue in 1997. Then it was headed by V. Pustovoitenko. I was the author of the relevant decree, the main aim of which was to stimulate the production of high-octane additives. Enterprises  of Bar and Gaisyn produced more than 2 million tons of bio-ethanol, which was used by petroleum refineries of Drogobytch and Odessa, for the production of gasoline. By the way, the fuel did not cause any harm to engines. After that the subject was closed. Biotechnologies by thorny paths made their way everywhere - in Europe and in the United States. The richest oil lobby in each country has influence on the government. And Ukraine has not avoided such effect.

The second time the government heard us in 2003. Then, in the state budget were laid norms which later formed the basis of the law on biofuels. They provided 50% of benefit for payment of excise tax during the production of mixed gasoline. Also have been identified  state standards of the content of bioethanol in mixed gasoline, in the development of which I also took part. In 2003-2004, this production was legalized but at the same time there were "sharp" structures, such as "Teterevnafta." At the end of that year, Crewe and the Office of Public Prosecutor said that this company and similar to her, underpaid to the state budget over 200 million USD. They mixed gasoline which they produced without bioethanol, they just mixed gasoline of different producers. And at the end of the year, these structures have disappeared, and now there is no one to ask about non-payment of the excise tax. Instead of searching, with the assistance of Interpol of specific individuals and their real punishment, we decided again to "close the topic" of mixed gasoline.

Once again, we came back to it in 2006. But again there were nimble speculators, who received food spirit at distilling plants of  bioethano, with zero rate of excise tax and used  it for production of  “left” vodka .Today, such a possibility is excluded. Production of vodka was brought under control in all possible ways. In enterprises, which will engage in the production of bio-ethanol,  will be excluded technologically of possibility of production of food spirit. This standard was adopted at the level of law. Technically to clean a product from additives, for to get food spirit is much more expensive than to buy it legally. So, for combinatory of “left” vodka will become disadvantageously to be involved in such an affair. I believe, that now all the barriers for the production of biofuels were removed and we already have a program of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy on reconstruction of 29 plants.

I do not completely agree here. I do not approve a variant, where the enterprises will be reconstructed at the expense of the state. I am sure that we need to transfer them to the private sector and the funds from the state budget should be allocated to social programs. Besides, sooner or later, when the reconstruction will be done at public expense, the production of biofuels will be in hands of private entities. This is too profitable industry ... If oil products become cheaper, then only for a penny, and the profitability of the production is very high.

Including the distillery plants of Bar and Haisyn, which other of Vinnytsia region can produce such a product?

- From the 14 companies of the region, the need of food spirit may provide only three enterprises. For example, Nemyriv distillery plant, which has private investments,  Martynov and possibly Bershad. All the others should be reconstructed. From some areas were left only the platforms, but they are also attractive, because they equipped with communications. If the management of the region will support this idea and carry it to the central office, the tasks of such kind can be implemented in the near future.

- You probably know about the last year's conflict in Gaysin distillery plant. First, to the company were presented claims about the non-payment of excise tax in the amount of 340 mln. USD and then the owner changed there and all worked without payment of "debt." Could such a scenario happen again?

- This is a result of absence of the state program. When the state clearly defines the priorities, than the officials understand how to read the specific norms of the laws and regulations ... Today everything is possible, the fantasy of Ukrainian people is too developed. In 1950s, the country has gathered a lot of spirit, which once was produced for the battle front. It was already too late to make Vodka from it; the expiration date was ended. Then they decided to add it to gasoline. And what do you think? Not scientists with doctoral degrees but ordinary rural drivers realized that the water does not dissolve in gasoline and spirit molecular dissolves the water! As soon as the drivers found out that there is spirit in gasoline, they poured a bucket of water into the tank and with the help of a setting tank drew off the vodka. So from a bucket of water and tank of gasoline they got two buckets of dissolved spirit. Therefore, taking into account that the Ukrainian talented people can always think out something, I can’t exclude anything. Maybe in a year will appear a new know how. The problem of conviction of fable is a task for controlling and fiscal authorities.

- In the Parliament of the previous convocation You headed the agricultural committee, created the preconditions for the development of the land market. Was this topic postponed?

- It is in the process of development. During the moratorium period it is necessary to improve the legislation and make it so that the majority of the Ukrainian people reacted on it positively. The legislation basis, which we have now, is perceived by individuals. When we will modify it, then we will speak about it.

- Do You often organize various cultural events in the region. Do You like to sing by yourself?

- I do, but not at that level for to do it in public.

How do you spend your free time?

- I have no free time.

- If You would have it, on what would you spend it?

- First of all, I‘d go to the sea, for to lie in the sun and swim ... For two years I had no vacations. Earlier, I had a rest just for 7-14 days. I have a lot of hobbies. You asked about the singing? While being the Chairman of the collective farm in the village Velyka Kosnytsia, I finished building of a house of culture. About 20 years on that place was only footing. I had to build farms but I thought that people can’t live without culture. I purchased for the amateurs everything that was possible - from boots and shirts to tools for ensemble and a brass band. And our amateur performances were considered as the best one. I was always interested in that. You know, recently, I was in Paris at the invitation of the Ministry of Agriculture of France. Taking advantage from the occasion, I visited the Opera House. If I would have more time, I would visit it more often. I also like billiards, soccer and volleyball. I like fishing, however, the last time I succeeded in that was the year before. But the love for something does not disappear because of the lack of time.

Source: Vinnytsia Info/ http://www.vinnitsa.info/