A PLENARY MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE 6TH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, 25 DECEMBER
332 People's Deputies Registered to attend the Meeting,
Opening the Evening Meeting, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk, sent his greetings and warm wishes for a very Happy Christmas to all Ukrainian Catholics.
Arseniy Yatseniuk then announced that the Central Election Committee has confirmed its superior professional standing, having, on 25 December, Registered 14 People's Deputies elected in the National Constituency from The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and 'Our Ukraine People's Self-Defence Bloc', as next in line to replace those who have terminated early their authorities due to their election as Members of the Cabinet of Ministers.
After this, The Chair advised the auditorium of the Meetings of The Conciliatory Council, held during the adjournment between the Plenary Meetings. He stated that the Committees have now all been actually assigned and their membership defined. 'There exist several deviations from the Law, but this must be a matter of compromise.
A. Yatseniuk suggested that once the newly-elected Deputies have been adjured, and the Minister of Justice, Mykola Onishchuk, together with the Minister of Education, Ivan Vakarchuk, have taken The Oath, there should be a 30-minute recess for the signing of The Resolution on the Assigning of Committees, their Membership, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.
The newly-elected Deputies, Antonina Baliura, Serhiy Vasylenko, Olexander Hudyma, Yaroslav Dzhodzhyk, Yaroslav Kendzior, Serhiy Koshyn, Vasyl Kravchuk, Oleksiy Zarudny, Eduard Zeinalov, Mykola Krut, Andriy Pavlovsky, Andriy Parubiy, Mykola Potapchuk, and Borys Shyianov then took The Oath before The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine notified the assembly of the joining of 'Our Ukraine- People's Self-Defence' Bloc by the People's Deputies, Yaroslav Dzhodzhyk, Eduard Zeinalov, Serhiy Vasylenko, Yaroslav Kendzior, Mykola Krut, and Andriy Parubiy; and joining of The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc by the People's Deputies Antonina Baliura, Olexander Hudyma, Oleksiy Zarudny, Vasyl Kravchuk, Andriy Pavlovsky, Mykola Potapchuk, Serhiy Koshyn and Borys Shyianov; as well as the joining of the Democratic Forces Coalition in The Verkhovna Rada by each of the 14 People's Deputies.
The Oath of a Member of The Cabinet of Ministers was taken before The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by The Minister of Education, Ivan Vakarchuk.
The Oath of a Member of The Supreme Justice Council was taken before The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by The Minister of Justice, Vasyl Onishchuk.
Following this, Members of The Deputy Factions took the floor with their statements, announcements and proposals.
The Chair then summarized their suggestions. Arseniy Yatseniuk advised The Deputies of his intention to initiate the drawing-up of Draft Amendments to the Standing Orders, apertaining to the Inter-faction Associations. He said that two groups of Deputies had already made applications requesting him to announce the Registration of an Inter-faction Association at a Meeting of The Verkhovna Rada.
A. Yatseniuk added that neither The Standing Orders, nor the Law 'On the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine' gives a judicial definition for the 'Inter-faction Association' term. He said that he had committed The Office and Administrative Department of The Verkhovna Rada to consider the preparation of Draft Amendments to the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to include a provision concerning the functioning of Inter-faction Associations, since 'Today this is nothing more than simply a declaration'. said A.Yatseniuk.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada also emphasized the requirement for the Deputies, appointed Members of The Executive Bodies, to submit written applications for the termination of their Deputy's authorities. Otherwise he would have to issue orders that their cards be blocked and their wages held back.
A. Yatseniuk expressed his belief that the choice of Leaders of the Parliamentary Committees would be agreed later in the day.
The Chair then called for a 30-minute recess in the Meeting, so that a final decision on the Assigning of Committees could be made at The Conciliatory Council Meeting.
After this interval, A. Yatseniuk announced that four Factions had settled all matters related to the Assigning of Committees. The Party of Regions Faction, according to the Chair, has not yet produced its proposals and had asked for extra time until the following day to finally settle this matter.
'Should the Party of Regions Faction fail to produce its proposals, the Draft Resolution on the Setting-up of Committees will tomorrow be put to the vote, even if this results in it being signed by the Leaders of four Factions only,´ said A. Yatseniuk.
The Chair also notified the Auditorium. that the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the leaders of Deputy Factions have been invited to attend the Meeting of The Cabinet of Ministers tomorrow, at which the Draft Budget 2008 will be considered. Therefore, the Draft Resolution 'On the List, Membership and Terms of Reference of the Committees in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation' will be put to the vote tomorrow morning.
The Evening Meeting was then closed.
The next Plenary Meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 December