Temporary Special Commission on preparation of the bill on development and use of languages in Ukraine will in the nearest time refer the document for consideration by the Parliament. Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi said this during the meeting with the Special Adviser of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General Jeroen Schokkenbroek on Thursday.
The Parties discussed a range of issues regarding constitutional reform;
changes in the language legislation of Ukraine; rights of national
minorities and restoration of societal trust to the authority. Ruslan Koshulynskyi noted that in conditions of economic crisis and military aggression by the Russian Federation, amendments in regard to national minorities and their languages should be made quickly and in line with the standards of the European Council. That is why, according to him, it is extremely important to use experience of other countries, particularly, Western European countries, in the course of elaboration of new legislation. Thereat, he stressed that “there are no preconditions to limit official national minorities in language or cultural aspects in modern Ukraine.”
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada reminded that the recently established Temporary Special Commission on elaboration of the bill on development and use of languages in Ukraine that includes representatives of all deputy groups and factions, as well as specialists, scientists and experts from different regions of Ukraine, has already elaborated main suggestions to the fundamental bill on languages of national minorities and is ready to present the bill for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the nearest time. Final approval of this document will be held after the opinion of the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe, with consideration of all the remarks.
Ruslan Koshulynskyi noted that the fundamental bill, which is suggested to be amended, could not be qualitatively implemented into the applicable legislative framework, since it included provisions that contradicted the Constitution of Ukraine and required additional expenses, not stipulated in the State Budget of Ukraine. “Our current task lies in acting within the Constitution of Ukraine, preserving the official status of the Ukrainian language (article 10) and securing rights of minority languages,” he stressed, and added that all the proposals regarding amendments to the Main Law in this direction, will be referred to the respective commission.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada informed that today at the meeting in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, headed by Vice Prime-Minister O.Sych, the issue on elaborating the bill on development and use of languages in Ukraine was discussed; remarks and recommendations were approved. “I think that in the nearest future we will come to a mutual decision”, he said.
R.Koshulynskyi expressed his opinion that with consideration of the present situation it is urgent to adopt the “language law”, which will exclude speculations around this issue. He also stressed that the constitutional reform, requiring a balanced approach, should be implemented in such directions: language policy, federal structure and non-aligned status of the state.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada claimed it is necessary to restore people’s trust in the government, particularly law-enforcement bodies and judiciary authorities. This problem should be solved by adopting legislative “lustration package”, according to which persons connected with corruption while at their posts should be suspended from the exercise of duties. “This package will be based on principles suggested by countries of Eastern Europe during their processes of lustration, particularly Poland and Czech Republic”, he said.
In his turn, Special Adviser of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General Jeroen Schokkenbroek stressed that “Ukraine will be a powerful country when other nations will feel like home here”, and suggested assistance in issues on reforming Ukrainian legislature.