The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk, states that Parliamentary proceedings should be conducted with strict adherence of The Constitution.
Commenting on the outcome of a meeting between Leaders of Deputies´ Factions, held on Tuesday 19 February, at the request of the Party of Regions, A. Yatseniuk again stressed that the working of Parliament will be organized on a systematic basis only. ‘No separate meetings will be held on a whim of any particular Faction, the sittings will commence in line with The Constitution, without any blocking and according to The Standing Orders, using the Schedule and Agenda.
For the umpteenth time, A.Yatseniuk offered options for unblocking the working of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The first suggests the discussion of all Draft Resolutions on holding a Referendum concerning Ukraine´s accession to NATO.
The second, offered by the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada, suggests the adoption of a compromised version of this Resolution, in line with the National Unity Universal signed by the Leader of the Oppositional Faction, V. F. Yanukovych.
The third suggests consideration of the Referendum issue after the Bucharest Summit, and before the Cabinet of Ministers adopts a decision on Ukraine´s accession to the Membership Action Plan (provided that a relevant decision is taken at the relevant Ukraine/NATO Summit in Bucharest).
The fourth option, referred to as ‘the only constructive solution´ by the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the signing of a Political Agreement whose revised text is now laid before the Deputies, in which proposals from the Opposition have been taken into account. A.Yatseniuk said that Opposition members had called for inclusion of the Law on the Chamber of Audit on the Parliamentary Agenda, and adoption of amendments to the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, to regulate the operation of the Opposition.
‘The majority of the Faction agreed to go along with this scenario. The text of a new Political Agreement, drawing on the proposals from the Party of Regions Faction, has been forwarded to Faction Leaders,´ said A. Yatseniuk.
‘All compromises have been offered. I expect decisions and actions, not fruitless negotiations,´ emphasized the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Revised text of the Political Agreement
POLITICAL AGREEMENT
ON PRINCIPLES OF WORKINGS
OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE 6TH CONVOCATION
___ February 2008
We, The Deputies´ Factions within The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:
‘The Regions of Ukraine´ Party Faction, represented by the Faction Leader, Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych;
‘The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc´ Faction, represented by the Faction Leader, Ivan Hryhorovych Kyrylenko;
‘Our Ukraine/People´s Self-Defence´ Bloc Faction, represented by the Faction Leader, Viacheslav Anatoliyovych Kyrylenko;
The Communist Party of Ukraine Faction, represented by the Faction Leader, Petro Mykolaiovych Symonenko;
‘The Lytvyn Bloc´ Faction, represented by the Faction Leader, Volodymyr Mykhailovych Lytvyn,
fully aware of our political responsibilities for Ukraine´s future and the devastating nature of the political confrontation in Parliament, based on the electors´ interests and aspiring to further progress and the strengthening of Ukraine as a Democratic, Social and Constitutional State,
have herein agreed the following:
- Any actions of Parliament, its bodies, Officials and Deputies´ Factions within The Verkhovna Rada, shall be undertaken on the basis of, within the scope and under a procedure as laid down in The Constitution and Laws of Ukraine, and The Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
- Legislation, in force as of the date of signing of this Agreement, shall be taken into account in deciding upon Ukraine´s membership of NATO, and in particular, The Law of Ukraine ‘On Essentials of National Security of Ukraine´, and Resolutions No. 223-4 of 21 November 2002, and No.158-V of 19 September 2006;
- Notice shall be taken of the fact that the signature of the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, inscribed on the letter addressed to The Secretary General of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation, does not reflect the consolidated vision of the Constitutional Membership of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
- A discussion in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall precede any presentation, at the international scene, of the Ukrainian Parliament´s vision of the issues related to Ukraine acquiring NATO membership;
- A voting method in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on issues related to the appointment to positions, pursuant to Part 3, Article 84 of The Constitution of Ukraine, shall not be changed unless by mutual agreement;
-The legal status of the Parliamentary Opposition shall be regulated without delay in legislation;
-The Law of Ukraine on the Chamber of Audit shall be brought in line with The Constitution of Ukraine;
- Priority shall be given to completion of Ukraine's accession to the WTO, resulting from the
efforts made by political forces represented in the Parliament of Ukraine;
- Legislative framework shall be created for the organization and holding of the European Football Championship 2012 Finals in Ukraine;
- Plenary meetings of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall commence according to the Planned Schedule of Meetings of the Second Session of the 6th Convocation, approved by The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 12 February 2008, with alterations envisaging Plenary proceedings of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from 26 February 7 March 2008;
- Each of the Deputies´ Factions within The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 6th Convocation shall adopt, and adhere to, a constructive platform in respect of the organisation and working of Parliament, and be entitled to demand, through the use of all possible legal methods, execution of this Political Agreement by the other Parties thereto.
___________________
V.F. Yanukovych
‘Regions of Ukraine´ Party Faction
___________________
I.H. Kyrylenko
‘The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc´ Faction
___________________
V.A.Kyrylenko
‘Our Ukraine/People´s Self Defence´ Bloc Faction
__________________
P.M. Symonenko
CPU Faction
______________
V.M.Lytvyn
‘The Lytvyn Bloc´ Faction