ON FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER. THE FIRST SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE WAS OPENED
At 12 noon, the Chair of the Preparatory Deputy Group Raisa Bohatyriova, speaking from the seat of the Chair, advised that 450 People's Deputies of Ukraine have been registered by the Central Electoral Committee resulting from the early election to The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 30 September 2007. After taking the Oath 449 People's Deputies have taken up the appointment of a People's Deputy of Ukraine and have registered for attendance at the First Meeting of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Therefore, The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation is legitimate and can commence the execution of its Constitutional Authorities.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 5th Convocation thus terminates its Authorities.
Pursuant to the Constitution of Ukraine, Article 82, the elder statesman of the People's Deputies Ivan Herasymov was once again invited to come forward to the rostrum.
He declared the First Meeting of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation open.
The H. Veriovka Academic Folk Choir performed the National Anthem of Ukraine.
One Minute's Silence was held by the People's Deputies in memory of the miners who perished in the Zasiadko Mine on 18 November.
Then, the Chair of the Preparatory Deputy Group Raisa Bohatyriova, advised that the Interim Presidium will hold the Plenary Meeting prior to the election of the Speaker of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The Preparatory Deputy Group has carried a motion on the election of 5 members to the Interim Presidium, one member per each political force represented in Parliament.
After this the People's Deputies, for the first time, registered to take part in the Meeting. Present at this Meeting were 430 People's Deputies.
Raisa Bohatyriova, presiding, read out the Membership of the Interim Presidium. Approval of this Membership was then sought.
The Resolution 'On the Interim Presidium of the First Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation' was approved with 419 votes in favour. Pursuant to this Resolution, the following Membership of The Interim Presidium of the First Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation was elected for the period before the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is elected:
The People's Deputy Raisa Bohatyriova of the Party of Regions; People's Deputy Olexander Turchinov of the Electoral Bloc of political parties 'The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc', People's Deputy Roman Zvarych of the Electoral Bloc of political parties 'Our Ukraine - People's Self-Defence Bloc', People's Deputy Adam Martyniuk of The Communist Party of Ukraine; and People's Deputy Ihor Sharov of the Electoral Bloc of political parties 'The Lytvyn Bloc'.
The Members of the Interim Presidium took their seats to carry out their duties
Before the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is elected, the Members of the Interim Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada First Session each will in turn preside at the sittings, by alphabetic order.
Decisions taken by The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine before the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is elected, shall be signed by all Members of the First Session Interim Presidium.
After this the Chair gave the floor to The Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, who read out the Declaration on the abdication of responsibilities by the Members of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The People's Deputies expressed their gratitude to the Members of the Cabinet of Ministers with loud applause.
The Chair advised, that by virtue of Article 115 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which has abdicated responsibilities before the newly-elected Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, shall proceed with executing its duties before the newly formed Cabinet of Ministers takes up its duties.
Then, Serhiy Sas, a Member of the Preparatory Deputy Group, brought before the People's Deputies the motions concerning the Returning Board Membership.
The People's Deputies were asked to support the complete list. The Resolution on the Returning Board was passed with 433 votes in favour. It consists of 8 members from the Party of Regions, 7 members from BYuT, 3 from 'Our Ukraine People's Self-Defence' Bloc, 1 member from CPU and 1 member from The Lytvyn Bloc.
After this, the People's Deputies considered and discussed the Draft Resolution on the media coverage of proceedings of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation. Representatives of various political forces advanced several remarks on the text of the Resolution. The People's Deputies also made numerous motions.
The Resolution was at first passed as a basis for further consideration, and then, once it was amended to take into account various remarks, it was passed as a whole.
The Chair advised that the next item on the Agenda was a Special Message from the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko concerning the domestic and foreign position of Ukraine. R. Bohatyriova said that the above Message to Parliament is currently in preparation, and suggested that that this item be considered next week. The People's Deputies carried this motion.
According to the established Agenda, next to take the floor was the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olexander Moroz. He congratulated the newly-elected People's Deputies on the election and wished then success in carrying out their duties. O. Moroz then stressed that 'the results of the early Parliamentary election confirm that this was an illegal and reckless venture undertaken at the expense of the people.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 5th Convocation placed major blame for the developments in the country on the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko.
These words of O. Moroz aroused a negative reaction from the People's Deputies in BYuT and 'Our Ukraine - People's Self-Defence' Blocs, and they left the Assembly Room.
The speech delivered by the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 5th Convocation was short. Finally, O. Moroz advised the People's Deputies that to obtain further information they should consult his written review of the condition of legislative undertakings in Ukraine.
Following the completion of O.Moroz´ speech, The Chair requested those Deputies who had left the Assembly Room to return and continue their duties.
Then, Raisa Bohatyriova reported on the activities of the Preparatory Deputy Group.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine took into consideration the Report of the Preparatory Deputy Group.
After this the People's Deputies considered the Draft Resolution on the List, Subject Matter and Membership of the .Committees in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation. Mykola Azarov, the Sub-Group Coordinator, reported on this issue. He advised on the motion from the Preparatory Deputy Group to set up 26 Committees and an Ad hoc Privatisation Panel in Parliament.
M.Azarov reported on the amendments proposed in the Committees' Subject Matter. After the Coordinator's address, the People's Deputies discussed the Draft Resolution. They had no comments on the number of Committees, but however made several remarks and proposals as to their Subject Matter.
The Draft Resolution on the List, Membership and Subject Matter of the Committees in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation was then passed, with 418 votes in favour, as a basis for further consideration.
Raisa Bohatyriova, Chair, advised that Factions must now be created in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, pursuant to the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Clause 57. For this purpose, a break in the meeting was announced.
After the break, Raisa Bohatyroiva, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine 'On the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine', Clause 13, and The Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Clauses. 57, 58, 59, 60, announced the creation and registration of the following Deputy Factions within The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation:
- Faction of the Party of Regions with 174 People's Deputies;
- Faction of the Electoral Bloc of political parties 'The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc' (with 156 People's Deputies; Yulia Tymoshenko elected the Chairman of the Faction);
- Faction of the Electoral Bloc of political parties 'Our Ukraine People's Self-Defence Bloc' (with 72 People's Deputies; Viacheslav Kyrylenko elected the Chairman of the Faction)
- Faction of the Communist Party of Ukraine (with 27 People's Deputies; Petro Symonenko elected the Chairman of the Faction); and
- Faction of the Electoral Bloc of political parties 'The Lytvyn Bloc' (with 20 People's Deputies; Volodymyr Lytvyn elected the Chairman of the Faction).
The First Plenary Meeting was then closed.
The next Plenary Meeting of the First Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation will be held on Thursday 29 November.