In his closing year-end interview to Rada TV channel, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy called legislative work in 2018 a tremendously challenging and very productive at the same time. “We have adopted legislative enactments of highest importance," said the dignitary, and stressed that there had been carried out sweeping reforms in various areas of socio-political life of the country.

Among the most ambitious laws there was called to be the law of Ukraine "On national security". "This is a key law for reforming the Ukrainian army and the security sector in accord with NATO standards," he said. - This large-scale ordinance shall be reproduced in other specialized laws, in particular - on intelligence, on a parliamentary committee, on a security service, however, for the time being, it has already become a key and fundamental one, speaking strictly".

Amongst equally topical issues, A.Parubiy also called to be the laws on mine action and Ukraine’s contiguous zone. These instruments shall enable demining of the occupied territories, returning them to a peaceful life, attracting investments and involving foreign specialists in demining, increasing all-up defence not only alongside the delimitation line, but also in the maritime zone.

"Full of symbolism was there the law on a military salute - "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!" said the politician, adding then that it does strengthen the Ukrainian spirit of the Ukrainian army.

According to the chairman, there have also been significant changes in other areas, in particular, "the changes to the Constitution of Ukraine, which pave and define the path of Ukraine to the European Union and NATO as a key foreign policy direction". "The said constitutional changes shall make this strategic direction virtually unchangeable," commented on A.Parubiy.

Among the most country’s significant statutes, there were also designated to be the law on anti-corruption court, the laws on further de-communization and the Ukrainian state language, as well as the law on the recognition of fighters of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Polissya Sich, other armed insurgents as combatants, placing them, in fact, on the same footing as the soldiers presently standing on the frontline in Ukraine’s east.

"Notwithstanding these veterans are few, it is important for those who are not with us. Their sacrifice and struggle were not in vain, for their struggle, their legend was the cradle that gave birth to a new generation, which builds the State and protects it against the same enemy whom they fought with during the Second World War," he explained.

Additionally, the head of parliament marked its international activities, in particular, the adoption of the law on diplomatic service. "We were very successful on the diplomatic front, in our international activities and efforts. Our parliamentary delegations have been working wonders at the PACE and the Council of Europe," said the chair, and reminded about a very important this year’s event - the creation of a new Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova – the countries which have been occupied by Russian troops in part.

"It is a very powerful event that demonstrates the entire free world that Russia is a global evil, that Putin is flesh of aggression’s flesh, which may appear in any other country of the world from nowhere".

The speaker of parliament also noted that in the framework of the Ukraine-Poland-Lithuania Inter-Parliamentary Assembly there had been implemented the decision on granting the name of the Great Hetman Kostiantyn Ostrozhskiy to a military unit-brigade.

Among the most important historic decisions, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada named the Parliament’s dogged determination to establish a local Orthodox Church.

"At one point, the Parliament of Ukraine expressed its initiative for granting the Tomos of autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church and sent an appropriate message to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for approval of such a decision," reminded the chairperson, and noted that Ukraine is presently at the final stage of the process. A.Parubiy also said that at the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I he would visit Istanbul to witness the ceremony of presentation of the Tomos to the Ukrainian Metropolitan, who had been recently elected at the unification council.

This year, according to the chairman of parliament, was the year of key personnel decisions as well. In particular, there were appointed the chairman of Ukraine’s national bank, the commissioner for human rights, the chairman of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, alongside of a new configuration of the Central Election Commission.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy congratulated the Ukrainians on forthcoming New Year and Christmas holidays, and wished them fireside comfort, their dreams and hopes come true, asking in their prayers to make mention of those who protect the state on the front line, and for the warriors – that all hostile bullets become ‘overs’.