GRAND OPENING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON 2 SEPTEMBER
The grand opening of the Third Session was attended by Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime-Minister of Ukraine, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, The Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner, Head of the Accounting Chamber, Head of the Central Election Commission, Head of the Supreme Council of Justice, chairmen of regional councils, acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, heads of diplomatic missions of the foreign states, and other officials and invited persons.
Pursuant to Article 83 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, declared the Third Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation open.
The choir performed the National Anthem.
The People´s Deputies kept one minute's silence in remembrance of the People´s Deputy Mykhailo Syrota who perished in a road accident on 25 August 2008.
Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered the opening address. In his speech he dwelled upon the function of the Parliament, which consists in "preservation of democracy, preservation of democratic values, gradual development of Ukrainian State and Ukrainian society".
A.Yatseniuk characterized the political environment of Ukraine. Dwelling upon the further work, he stated: "First of all, the agenda should include the Laws on domestic and foreign policies, which are being discussed for a long time. These Laws should present the way to consolidate the whole Parliament. They should define the orientation of Ukraine, the results to be attained, and the system reforms to be held in our Ukrainian State".
A.Yatseniuk briefly commented on the issues of top-priority included into the agenda. He stated that the agenda should include the system reforms, the State Budget for Year 2009, and the "Program of Social and Economic Development of Ukraine. He determined the following clear-cut priorities of budgetary policy for Year 2009: education, healthcare, infrastructure, and break-even policy of Ukrainian State.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also stated that agro-industrial complex and energy sector should be of utmost significance.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that the issues concerning development of market economy and preparations for holding Euro-2012 are of great importance.
In the end, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine briefly commented on the work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. A.Yatseniuk stated that he would insist that the Law "On Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" be adopted. The Law "should provide a clear-cut legal mechanism for adoption of resolutions".
Then A.Yatseniuk commented upon the personal voting of the People´s Deputies. He addressed the leaders of the Factions with a demand that all the People´s Deputies should be present at the parliamentary Hall and vote personally.
In their speeches, the leaders and authorized representatives of the Deputy Factions appraised political situation in Ukraine and latest events in Georgia. Due to the request of V.Yanukovych, Head of The Party of Regions Deputy Faction, the People´s Deputies commemorated peaceful residents and peacemakers who perished in the course of the conflict between Georgia and Ossetia.
The speakers introduced their motions concerning work of The Verkhovna Rada, and scrutiny of the Bills of top-priority.
Then the parliament members voted for the agenda of the plenary meeting on 2 September. They supplemented the agenda with a number of Laws and resolutions, namely: "On Promotion of Prestigiousness of Miner´s Work"; "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for Year 2008 and Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine"; "On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine (re Authorities of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine); "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Security Service of Ukraine", and "On Amendments to the Law "On the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine".
The parliament members scrutinized Draft Resolutions on the situation in Georgia. The authors presented twelve Draft Resolutions that appraise the latest events, and introduced their ways to settle the conflict situation.
Due to the results of consideration, The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution on setting up an Ad Hoc Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to investigate the Facts of Delivery of Ukrainian Military Equipment to Georgia accompanied by Violations of Ukrainian Legislation and International Law.
The parliament members failed to uphold any Draft Resolution on declaration of the stand of The Verkhovna Rada concerning the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Then the People´s Deputies scrutinized the issue concerning election of First Vice-Chairman and Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution on determination of the method and type of voting during the election of First Vice-Chairman and Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada.
Thus, the Resolution envisages that resolutions concerning candidacies for the posts of First Vice-Chairman and Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada are to be adopted by an open individual voting.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution, pursuant to which, People´s Deputy of Ukraine Olexandr Lavrynovych, member of The Party of Regions Faction, is elected First Vice-Chairman, and People´s Deputy of Ukraine Mykola Tomenko, member of The BYuT Faction is elected Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Then the People´s Deputies scrutinized the Bill "On Promotion of Prestigiousness of Miner´s Work" under the shortened procedure.
The Bill was adopted as a basis and in its entirety by 446 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for Year 2008 and Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine" as a basis, and in its entirety.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law on Amendments to Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Income Tax" (re Specification of Categories of Persons who are granted Benefits in the form of Free Allotment of Coal for Everyday Needs).
Then Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that all the other issues included into the agenda, were of political nature. Inter alia, he mentioned the Bill on temporary inquiry panels.
"Dear deputies, I exerted my efforts to retain the democratic coalition, despite I am the Chairman of entire Verkhovna Rada. I can not bear a hand in the collapse of coalition. As you have elected First Vice-Chairman and Vice-Chairman, it is possible to continue the meeting. I will not preside over the meeting that eliminates democracy", - stated A.Yatseniuk and left the Session Hall.
Then Olexandr Lavrynovych, First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, presided over the plenary meeting.
Maryna Stavniychuk, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, presented the President´s Motions to the Law "On Ad Hoc Inquiry Panels, Special Ad Hoc Inquiry Panel and Ad Hoc Special Panels of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine".
The motions of the President of Ukraine have been put to the vote after a short discussion. The People´s Deputies failed to uphold the motions.
The Verkhovna Rada readopted the Law "On Ad Hoc Inquiry Panels, Special Ad Hoc Inquiry Panel and Ad Hoc Special Panels of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" in its entirety by 361 votes.
The other issues of the agenda were considered under the shortened procedure.
The Draft Resolution on appointment of V.Nalyvaichenko to the post of a Head of the Security Service of Ukraine was included into the agenda.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Security Service of Ukraine" (re Appointment and Dismissal of Leaders of the Security Service of Ukraine and Improvement of certain Regulations)" and the Law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine" (re Coordination of the Regulations of the Law with the Constitution of Ukraine".
At the end of the evening plenary meeting, the People´s Deputies scrutinized and discussed two Draft Resolutions on appointment of V.Nalyvaichenko to the post of a Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, submitted by V.Yushchenko, President of Ukraine, and A.Hrytsenko, People´s Deputy.
Both Bills were declined due to the results of voting.
Then the evening plenary meeting was closed.