The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will always protect Democracy, Human Rights and Liberties, - V.Lytvyn
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will always protect democracy, human rights and liberties. Volodymyr Lytvyn,
Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,
made this statement, meeting the political analysts of the United States of
America headed by David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the
international non-governmental organization Freedom House.
V.Lytvyn stated that Ukraine shall make "great transformations." "There should be a dialogue with the least social losses, positive achievements being preserved," V.Lytvyn stated. "Such a dialogue is essential on the eve of the 20th anniversary of independence of Ukraine."
The Head of the Parliament admitted that some politicians are trying to split the line ‘President-Parliament´ due to the necessity of passing complicated, unpopular resolutions. "The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine guarantees democracy in the country," V.Lytvyn stressed. "We should stay reform-oriented. The alternatives to the initiatives of the power should prevent voluntary decisions." If these resolutions are not adopted, "we will face even bigger challenges tomorrow."
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called for strengthening the supervising function of the Parliament. V.Lytvyn informed that on Fridays of the plenary weeks, members of the opposition factions can invite the government officials to the Government Question Hour. There are also parliamentary inquiry panels set up by the opposition. However, he admitted, "There is enough energy to set up the panel, while it is much more difficult to reach feasible results." V.Lytvyn supposes that the institute of inquiry panels should become a tool for the opposition to control the authorities.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that changes in the system of parliamentary elections will increase deputies´ responsibility and the role of the legislative body.
V.Lytvyn regards concentration of power as concentration of
responsibility. He calls for establishing effective communication between the public
and the authorities.
Asked about the state of freedom of speech in Ukraine, V.Lytvyn stated that neither of 1000 bills registered in the Parliament "infringes upon the information sphere." On the contrary, according to the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Parliament has recently adopted the Law on access to public information, an important act to regulate the relations between the state and mass media, and to broaden the journalists´ rights.
"The conversation with the representatives of the Frеedom House organization was interesting. I expect that my assessments that consider our mentality and past will help them understand the processes in Ukraine," V.Lytvyn stated in the interview to the journalists.