On Wednesday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin, Co-Rapporteur of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament attaches great importance to the cooperation between Ukraine and PACE and its institutions, as "it allows comparing visions and approaches to the state reforms."
V.Lytvyn highly appreciated the meetings with the leaders of the monitoring group and cooperation with the Venice Commission. He hopes for the further contacts aimed at the development of democracy in Ukraine. "We have accepted the PACE resolution on Ukraine in October 2010 with all solemnity," stated V.Lytvyn.
Ms. Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin appreciated the fact that the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament is sending the bills to the Venice Commission for its expert review and analysis. She reminded of the critical remarks of the Commission concerning the bill on languages in Ukraine. In this respect, V.Lytvyn stressed that there was no reason for concern, as the said bill would not be scrutinized in The Verkhovna Rada in the nearest time. The authors of the bill should consider recommendations of the Commission. He also informed that several other bills on languages had been registered in the Ukrainian Parliament. V.Lytvyn believes that the bill on languages in Ukraine should be scrutinized together with the bill on the national minorities. "Then the compromise will be reached," he stated. "Language issue steps out of the limits of the humanitarian sector and has great political implications."
Asked about the drawing up of the Election Code, V.Lytvyn stressed that this draft received a positive response of the Venice Commission. However, it is doubtful that the draft on all elections will be adopted, so the law on elections of the People´s Deputies of Ukraine should be passed first. "It is necessary to reach a compromise concerning the election system which should meet the public moods, as people want to assess personal work of the deputies, whereas the election on a population basis does not allow that," he admitted. V.Lytvyn expects The Verkhovna Rada to scrutinize the bill on the formation of the Parliament after its review of the Venice Commission, work upon the Electoral Code following. He called for adopting the law to guarantee fair and transparent elections. "As drawing up of the Law will receive great publicity, key points in line with the current situation will be considered," he declared.
V.Lytvyn is convinced that Ukraine will fulfill its commitments to the Council of Europe: "We will definitely meet all the obligations, provided the recommendations are not extended." He reminded that several points require amending the Constitution.
"The transitional period is of utter importance for Ukraine. It is most important to keep the European vector of Ukraine unchanged," the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament stated.