EIGHTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF VI CONVOCATION WAS ADJOURNED

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, opened the morning sitting and informed on the results of work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during the plenary meetings on July 7.

People's Deputies voted to prolong the plenary meeting on Friday to finish the scrutiny of agenda items.  

The Chairman read out Deputies´ inquiries.

The parliamentarians scrutinized amendments to several bills in the second reading.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the following bills in entirety: "On the Refugees and Persons in need of Extra or Temporary Shelter in Ukraine" and "On Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding Regulation of Legal Relations between the Creditors and Receivers of Financial Services."

BYuT-Batkivshchyna and Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Factions insisted that a recess be announced.

Representative of Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Faction Arsenii Yatseniuk drew attention to the Law "On Legislative Support of Pension Reforms in Ukraine" adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

M. Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made the statement about adoption of the pension reform at the assembly hall of the Parliament. He reminded that the all-Ukrainian discussion of the pension reforms was held several months ago. However, none of the amendments suggested by the veterans, Chornobyl liquidators, trade unions, educators and other citizens has been upheld by the Parliament. Mykola Tomenko considers it an absurdity that most essential amendments adopted by the Specialized Committee have not been ratified at the session hall.

The Deputy Chairman explained that according to the official registration, only 143 People's Deputies out of 248 who voted for the reforms (Party of Regions 188,  People's Party 20, Reforms for the Future 18, non-affiliated deputies 11; Our Ukraine People's Self-Defense 11) were registered and actually present at the session hall. "Thus, the pension reform was supported by less than the third part of the People's Deputies", the Deputy Chairman stressed. Thus, M. Tomenko stressed that the whole presidium of the Verkhovna Rada did not vote for the pension reform: Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.M. Lytvyn did not vote and First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine A.I. Martyniuk and Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada M.V. Tomenko voted against it.

"I believe that we have sufficient reasons to recognize this shameful decision illegitimate and unlawful", M. Tomenko stated. "We will exert every effort to prevent signing and enactment of this reform."

People's Deputies continued scrutiny of the bills in the second reading. In the result of the voting, the following bills were adopted in entirety: "On Support of Safety and Public Order during the Mass Sports, and Health and Fitness Events", "On Court Fee";"On Common Customs Tariff" (re Exemption of Goods for Construction and Equipment of Airports-Objects of the Championship from Duty); "On Amendments to Clause 151 of the Land Code of Ukraine regarding Simplification of the Procedure of Land Plots Allocation for the Use of Mineral Resources"; "On Fishing Industry, Commercial Fishing, and Protection of Aquatic Bioresources"; "On Streamlining the Oil Products Turnover"; "On Amendments to the Law "On Tourism" regarding Compulsory Assignment of Categories to the Objects of the Tourism Infrastructure."

The parliamentarians scrutinized and upheld the motions of the President of Ukraine to the Law "On Amnesty in 2011." Adjusted for the motions of the President of Ukraine, the Law was adopted by 274 votes.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law "On Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding Public Procurement" adjusted for the Motions of the President of Ukraine by 263 votes.

The People's Deputies of Ukraine scrutinized and adopted the bill "On Amendments to Several Laws of Ukraine on Regulation of Debts for Electric Energy" as a basis and in entirety.

Ihor Hlushchenko, member of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety, presented the bill "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On State Budget of Ukraine for 2011" (regarding Reimbursement of Debts to the State Budget of Ukraine under the Subloan issued to Energy Generating Companies)."

The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 235 votes.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Laws "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine" "On Public Procurement" (regarding Oil and Oil Products); "On Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding Joint Activity"; "On Particulars of Lease or Concession of the State-Owned Objects of Fuel and Energy Sector."

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the bill on Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine (re Legal Support of Realization of Housing Rights of the Residents of Dormitory Accommodation).

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the Resolutions "On Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of The Ukrainian Peace Council" and "On State Celebration of the 555th Anniversary of Borshev Town (Ternopil Region)."

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Register of State-Owned Objects not subject to Privatization" (re Exclusion the Sport Hotel from the Register).

The Chairman stated that all agenda items have been scrutinized. According to the schedule, plenary work of the eighth session is concluded on July 8.

V.Lytvyn stated that members of the Cabinet of Ministers headed by First Prime Minister A.Kliuiev were present at the plenary meeting.

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered a speech at the closure of the eighth session. He summed up the results of Parliament´s work. "Despite sound criticism of the deputies, we accomplished colossal achievements during this session. Several systemic laws were adopted. The resolutions on 1049 drafts were passed. 215 laws were adopted, and the latest ones make it 220. 66 laws were adopted in the first reading. 768 bills were recommitted, rejected or withdrawn," he informed.  

V.Lytvyn stated that the average period for which the bill was processed in the parliament used to total 6-12 months, whereas now the bill remains 1-1,5 months in the Verkhovna Rada until the resolution is adopted.

V.Lytvyn also informed that out of 18 bills qualified as urgent by the President of Ukraine, 14 were adopted as laws, 2 as a basis, and 2 are being prepared for scrutiny in the first reading.

V.Lytvyn cited statistical data concerning work of the Verkhovna Rada during the eighth session.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed that the committees are working on 829 bills, 125 of them are being adjusted for the second reading.

"Everything happened during this session in the session hall: discussions, attempts to hug each other with emotions or to death," V.Lytvyn stated. "I hope that dialogue will be established and fostered."

V.Lytvyn thanked the Cabinet of Ministers and the People´s Deputies for their work. "I would like such meaningful cooperation to be all-embracing. I am convinced that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did its best to support the initiatives of the President of Ukraine," he stated.

"Today everyone has a chance to realize their vision of life in the country, so we should make it a common cause to guarantee predictable life. It requires decisions and actions," V.Lytvyn stressed.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.Lytvyn adjourned the eighth session of the sixth convocation. 

The ninth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the sixth convocation will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.