Valentyn Zaichuk, Secretary General of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariate: Cooperation between the Parliament and the Public Organizations shall continue for the Sake of Development of Civil Society in Ukraine
On Friday, Valentyn Zaichuk, Secretary General of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariate, met Kristina Wilfore,
Regional Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Ukraine.
NDI representative office in Ukraine carries out programs in political party development and focuses on the development of platforms for non-governmental organizations.
NDI in Ukraine assists democratic political activists in the acquisition of skills for the foundation of representative, accountable, open and efficient political parties. These political parties aim to extend and broaden the democratic principles and consolidate them in Ukraine, enabling the political parties to acquire special roles and fulfill their objectives on a professional, transparent and peaceful basis.
The NGO School
helps the non-governmental organizations to improve their skills in fund-raising,
financial and strategic planning, and organization management.
The Secretary General calls for prolonging the projects launched in Ukraine by this ‘legendary´ public organization. "Prior cooperation has developed wonderful traditions to be sustained", he stressed.
Mr Zaichuk stated that the aspect of cooperation aimed at the enhancement of collaboration between the People´s Deputies and the voters can not be realized in the previous mode, as the election system had changed. Therefore, several objectives set before the public are no longer topical. He stated that the civil society had partly been formed in Ukraine; the party activity had also become more systemic. Despite certain immaturity of party development, the projects striving for the transparent control over the authorities and their accountability to the public are more topical and appealing.
"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is a single body to adopt resolutions publicly, Mr Zaichuk stated. I believe that the matters of utmost importance shall be discussed in public." "It is the public discussions, their organizations and public opinion polls before the decision-making that should become the elements of the public organization program", he stressed.
Ms Kristina Wilfore stated that success requires joint efforts both of the political parties and forces, and the public. NDI offers seminars, media and communication trainings, exchange of experience, involvement of experts, US congressmen, scholars, etc. Enhancement of communication between the People´s Deputies and the voters is one of the important elements of the organization activity.
The Secretary General agreed to the suggested program of cooperation with the NDI, esp. collaboration with the mass media. Mr Zaichuk supported the idea of trainings of parliamentary
reporters to improve the awareness about the activity of a single legislative
body. He supposes that mass media representatives
covering the parliament´s activity shall have a perfect knowledge of not only
the Constitution of Ukraine, but also the mechanisms of law-making processes,
the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, personal records of the
People´s Deputies, bills under consideration, etc. "The information about the
Parliament´s activity shall be covered in a professional and responsible way",
Mr Zaichuk believes.