Presidential Elections shall determine the Course of Country´s Development for the Nearest Time

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made the above-mentioned statement on Monday, during the round table discussion on the topic "Significance of Elections of the President of Ukraine" held at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.

V.Lytvyn stated that the topic of presidential elections "exceeds the bounds of the democratic procedure to be performed in 2010". The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine cited Lord Chatham who had declared "There is something behind the throne greater than the King himself". According to V.Lytvyn, this expression is topical for the present-day political situation in Ukraine.

The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament believes that the institute of presidency remains one of the legitimate institutes of authority. He stated that the majority of Ukrainian citizens, almost 70%, called for its preservation and supported popular election of the Head of State. However, V.Lytvyn remarks that this institute has been substantially discredited.  

"I am convinced that the presidential elections shall determine the course of country´s development for the nearest time", - stated V.Lytvyn. He supposes that Ukraine has two alternatives: either to follow the post-Soviet way, restoring authoritarian power, or to choose the democratic way of development.  

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that the choice of the former alternative "is supported by the social moods, the will for "strong hands" being dominant". Certain Ukrainian politicians are making attempts to exploit such moods, and call for a powerful President, meaning the accumulation of authority in the hands of one person.

"As far as the democratic way of development is concerned, it is necessary to determine whether we will be able to develop by means of authority distribution, creating the system of restrictions not only at the level of legislation, but also at the level of political culture", - stressed V.Lytvyn.  

V.Lytvyn believes that a new President of Ukraine shall first and foremost "cease destruction of the country due to the destruction of the State administration system in the struggle for power".

"Till 1994, Ukraine struggled against the system, but afterwards the struggle against the personalities started. It was especially evident in 2000: "the cassette" and "Kolchuha" scandals resulted in the internal and external isolation of Ukraine. 2004 became the climax of this process, when the sacral nature of presidency and executive authorities was destroyed. The institute of presidency and its significance were destructed", - stated V.Lytvyn. 

It was then that the practice of substituting laws by political agreements was launched. "We overcame a deep political crisis only due to the agreements reached with the facilitation of international mediators. However, we failed to learn a lesson, - stated the Head of the Parliament. The political agreements became a foundation of the political process in Ukraine, which resulted in the unbalanced system of authorities due to the partial privatization of authority institutes and spheres of influence. The Verkhovna Rada is the only non-privatized institute".  

V.Lytvyn believes that a new President of Ukraine shall pursue the policy to ensure controllability and predictability of the country on the grounds of a dialogue and values uniting people. V.Lytvyn quoted Abraham Lincoln: "A house divided against itself cannot stand".

A new President "shall unite the country". However, the Head of the Parliament stated: "Unfortunately, I fail to discern such a possibility: the majority of candidates for presidency attempt to play on the social differences to attract the electors". 

V.Lytvyn believes that a new President of Ukraine shall also hold "real reforms". Therefore, after the elections the politicians shall not be held hostage to their populist promises. "Today, Ukraine faces the necessity of adopting new quality, as the resource of State building after the Soviet examples has been exhausted. The crisis has testified that socialism is already in the past", - he underscored.     

The Presidential campaign shall also be fair. "It is important not only for Ukraine, but also for the restoration of confidence to it on the part of the world and Europe, - he stressed. I have objections concerning the said matter, however, we shall prevent the raider scheme of power seizure". "There is a need for a legitimate President who will consciously conduct domestic and foreign policy; Ukraine shall not transform from the subject of the international politics into its object", - he declared.   

The Head of the Parliament believes that the principles of domestic policy shall determine the foreign policy of the country. "Other approaches have no prospects", - he stated.  

Answering the questions of the participants of the round table discussion, V.Lytvyn stated: "We shall ensure the possibility of public choice. The society makes attempts to reconsider the situation, however, it is rather optimistic to believe that the reconsideration will demonstrate its results on 17 January", - he stated. 

In the beginning of his address, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed his content with the fact that his visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland opened with the said meeting, as the Royal Institute of International Affairs "is the core of intellect and one of the brain centers of the world". 

V.Lytvyn expressed his gratitude to James Sherr, Head of the Russia and Eurasia Program, for being invited to the event. He stated that J.Sherr "is one of the best experts in the Ukrainian affairs, his estimates being the most accurate".  

Political scientists, representatives of authorities and diplomatic corps of the Great Britain attended the round table discussion.  

As it was reported, on 19-20 October, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stays with an official visit in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will meet Baroness Hayman, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, John Berkow, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chris Bryant, Minister of State for Europe. 

V.Lytvyn will also meet the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Mike Gapes, Committee Chairman, members of the All Party Parliamentary Ukraine Group headed by John Grogan, Chairman of the Group, and the deputies of the European Union Committee of the House of Lords headed by Lord Roper, Committee Chairman. 

V.Lytvyn will attend the sitting of London Corporation and meeting of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will give an interview to the Ukrainian editorial office of BBC World Service.