Volodymyr Lytvyn: The Verkhovna Rada shall play an Essential Role in the Implementation of Reforms, becoming a Decisive Part of the Political System, not the Official Disguise for the Long-Lasting Social and Economic Issues
Speech of V.M.Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, at the Opening of the Eighth Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation
Dear People´s Deputies, invitees and guests of The Verkhovna Rada!
The Head of State V.F.Yanukovych, members of the Cabinet of Ministers headed by Prime Minister M.Ya.Azarov, leaders of the law-enforcement system, judicial authorities and local self-government bodies are present at the opening of the 8th session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which is a special start of a new political season in the country.
It demonstrates that public authorities fully realize the importance of the priority tasks, as well as the common responsibility for the coordinated work to receive substantial long-expected positive results.
Opening the session, we shall specify its fundamental elements.
I expect the coming half-year to determine not only the future of the country, but also our political prospects.
The year 2011 is the year of the 20th anniversary of independence of a modern Ukrainian State. Undoubtedly, this period was significant. However, this date is an essential stage in the process of state building. It is a watershed period, considering the history and failed attempts to form a sovereign Ukraine.
The challenges have not changed. Moreover, they have become even more urgent and multi-faceted.
The country is overstressed. People paid an enormous social and even moral-psychological price for the independence. Public faith in social equity and solidarity has been shaken.
The urgent issues shall be tackled: how to combine the ideal of equity with the real situation, significant differentiation of the society? How to prevent the wealthy to outweigh the authority? How should the civilized relations between the capital and the public develop?
It of utter importance to help the people recover from the introduction of market relations, eradicate apathy and brutality of the social atmosphere, consolidate national solidarity and equity.
The authorities shall serve the public, while the sense of justice shall be put in practice. Nobody can tackle their problems without the state assistance, as these problems are not their fault.
It is necessary to fully appreciate the watershed period of statehood, without being lost in the traditional Ukrainian heart-searching and self-criticism. Practical systemic reforms shall be implemented. These reasonable and justified reforms should present a vital alternative to the public rancor.
The reforms are widely discussed. It is a buzzword in the political lexicon. However, who has suggested brainstorming of the ways to lead the country out of a complicated socio-economic situation? Who has actually outlined the reforms and insisted on the complex transformations?
President V.F.Yanukovych! Bankova Street acts as a center of reforms. We should welcome and support it, not hampering at least.
Anticipating the responses, I will declare: we have learned to criticize, but did not to learn to follow the declared principles. So, the calls for creating heaven in Ukraine turn into hell. We can create some event or a conflict, but not life. We have not learned the art of creating life yet. We have enough struggles, while the country is in dire need for work.
It requires a new turn, a fresh course, and a new countdown to prevent a throwback. We should demonstrate that we can catch up with the world.
It is during this session that The Verkhovna Rada shall play an essential role in the implementation of reforms, becoming a decisive part of the political system, not the official disguise for the long-lasting social and economic issues.
Every deputy ought to raise the bar of their professional, political, moral and intellectual responsibility. The period of "elated living, humble thinking and chaotic actions" should turn into the period of "humble living, elated thinking and actions."
Otherwise, neither public support nor feasible reforms is to be expected.
Now I am going to single out several statements related to the work of The Verkhovna Rada during this session.
The first statement legislative support of reforms.
Ukraine embodies such a complex set of political, economic, social, cultural and ideological problems that a non-systemic approach towards their settlement is a waste of time, efforts and governmental funds. It means the death of the state.
The Cabinet of Ministers is going to submit 117 reformative bills to the Parliament, not including 136 bills registered. Given this fact, the priority order of scrutiny and implementation of the suggested laws should be set.
In this respect, the idea of a joint sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Conciliative Council of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is noteworthy.
This aspect is important, as our laws have lost the odor of sanctity. Every law is amended at least three or four times. By the way, 886 laws and 2174 amendments to them have been adopted since August 24, 1991.
It is a background of the permanent claims on the lack of legal regulation.
The European Court of Human Rights managed with twenty clauses to cover the whole life of the Council of Europe member states, whereas 90 thousand legislative acts are not sufficient for Ukraine.
It is the reason for the promotion of bylaws that often substitute the laws and create an inappropriate legal environment.
This situation shall change.
The second statement The Verkhovna Rada shall immediately support anti-corruption actions, laying emphasis on the prevention of corruptive infringements. It is necessary to adopt the laws to prevent the temptation of corruption.
Still, only verbal competitions to find out who hates this evil more are going on. When the contestants discuss this phenomenon, they believe it does not concern them.
The Verkhovna Rada should adopt the law initiated by the President. Still, it shall not copy the provisions of the previous legislative acts that had lead to their invalidation. It shall consider the international agreements and the warnings in the expert reviews of the international organizations.
The third statement pertains to the land issue, which is sensitive for the Ukrainian people. A wide discussion is possible on condition that the national interests and the interests of the Ukrainian people will be granted a priority. Land is our last stronghold.
It is also true of the pension legislation.
The fourth statement concerns approaches to the sphere of humanities. They shall be objective, delicate and accurate. In practice, innovational bills concerning education, language, history and religion issues are of extremely conflict character.
We shall prevent those conflicts in Ukraine. Otherwise, Ukraine will be separated, while a separated Ukraine will not preserve its existence.
Let us remember: it is a root, not flowers, that gives life to a tree. Social sphere is this root for our people.
I suggest and call: do not try to rise superior to each other. Let us think about our common aims instead of mere personal intentions. We have enough hatred and suspicion in the political environment. We shall prevent its influence on the whole state.
We shall be constructive and act sensibly.
The fifth statement relates to the importance of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stand in the political issues. The latter are no longer of a pure legal character; they are full of social value.
First of all, we shall attach those principles to the constitutional reform. The Constitution shall be a tool of state development, providing its stability based on the accurate division of power into the legislative, executive and judicial braches.
It is vital to return sovereignty to the people by means of a civilized election system. Democratic management should be based on self-government principles.
We shall finally pass a decision on the bill on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in part of implementation of single terms on the election of representative authorities.
I address those who always come back to the issue of pre-termed elections: under the Ukrainian conditions, it is a stress for the state, whereas under the present conditions it is the highest possible stress. Do we need it? My answer is No!
The sixth statement relates to the role and place of Ukraine in the regional and global relations. These issues are of special significance today, which is connected with two factors.
Firstly, Ukraine has taken over the presidency over PABSEC. Since May, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will work under the presidency of Ukraine. In 2013, we will preside over the OSCE. In 2012, together with Poland, we are responsible for the holding of the Final Part of the European Football Championship. Thus, we have a chance to present ourselves as the regional leaders, since we are poorly represented in the world.
Secondly, Ukraine shall change its provincial image, confirming its awareness that we are not neighbors to Europe, but neighbors in Europe (Marek Sivets, EP member). We shall exercise our right for friendship with all the neighbors, with those we would like to be on friendly terms, not with those we are advised to develop friendly relations.
It is possible on condition that we act together and exert our common efforts.
We have already formed a unique situation for the Council of Europe, when the country in chair is under monitoring itself.
PACE adopted more than 10 Resolutions and Recommendations concerning Ukraine. The result is well-known.
The Verkhovna Rada bears a great responsibility for it.
I am convinced that the Ukrainian Parliament together with the Cabinet of Ministers shall set a working schedule of drafting and adopting the Laws, the register of which is defined by the Order of the President of Ukraine of January 12, 2011 "On Action Plan to meet the requirements and obligations of Ukraine concerning its membership in the Council of Europe."
Let us remember that the longer Ukraine is under monitoring, the more new requirements and remarks it will receive regarding those spheres that have not been a subject for the discussion.
Why do we have such a situation? Because our life is ever-changing. There are bigger demands and challenges, new criteria of democracy assessment. Furthermore, someone should test the new approaches, hence we are like so-called ‘soldiers of democracy.´
Our inertness results in humiliation of the country. We are not able to afford a luxury of empty talks.
Dear Deputies!
Public mood and expectations of changes shall prevent us from fighting and wasting energy on contradictions and quarrels.
Events of January 22, connected with the celebration of the Day of Reunion of Ukraine, showed low coordination rate between the politicians and their non-understanding of consolidation and reunion of our state, while the party events were discordant with the state celebration. Each of the politicians called for unity in their own squares, declaring that Ukraine shall be united with their efforts. It is nothing else but a desire to steal Ukraine.
It is great that we do not lack ambitious personalities, although it is awful that slogans are not out into life.
It is high time we demonstrated unity in practical work. Power is not in the political colors but in professional competence. Power shall be in team. We all are power, although we are different.
We are simply obliged to follow our obligation and do our work, of which the President of Ukraine reminded us today. I agree with the Head of the State on stable cooperation and round table discussions.
This work requires a physical form of an athlete, patience of a mother and stoic endurance of an early Christian.
Thank you for your attention!