THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE CONTINUED ITS PLENARY WORK ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
Authorized representatives of deputy factions took the floor with announcements, statements, information, and proposals at the beginning of the morning session.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak informed that the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych is present at the plenary meeting.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, the Head of the Constitutional Court Anatoliy Holovin, acting Head of the Supreme Court Yaroslav Romanyuk also took part in the plenary meeting.
The Chairman announced consideration of the issue of taking oath by the judges of the Constitutional Court. He informed that the President of Ukraine by his Decree appointed Tupytskyi Oleksandr Mykolayovych the judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Rybak informed also that another eleventh convention of Judges of Ukraine appointed Lytvynov Oleksandr Mykolayovych the judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on February 22, 2013.
Oleksandr Tupytskyi and Oleksandr Lytvynov took an oath before the Verkhovna Rada.
People’s deputies congratulated the newly appointed judges of the Constitutional Court.
Parliament members considered the issue of ratification.
The draft law on Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption was reported by the Representative of the President in the Verkhovna rada of Ukraine Yuriy Miroshnychenko. He noted that the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is an international agreement establishing single rules for intercountry adoption that are successfully implemented in 89 countries of the world. Its main aim is to establish such system of cooperation, which shall prevent kidnapping, sale of children or children trade.
Yu.Miroshnychenko noted that Ukraine carries out consistent policy in the sphere of adoption that aims at development and support of national adoption. According to him, 82 per cent of orphan children are now brought up in Ukrainian families. “At the same time, we recognize the right of a child to be adopted by foreigners, in case there is no possibility for the child to be adopted by Ukrainian family. Permitting intercountry adoption, we need to be sure that the rights of a child shall be protected. Ukraine’s accession to the Convention shall allow unify its adoption procedures with the procedures of other states; provide guarantees in regard to reliable information about living conditions and upbringing of Ukrainian children, etc,” stressed the Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada.
During the discussion people’s deputies expressed different stands in regard to the bill. Some of them stood for adoption of the bill. They believe that in case “the Convention is adopted, international mechanism, involving 89 countries of the world (including almost all of the EU countries), shall be also adopted”.
Other speakers opposed adoption of the bill, naming it “anti-Ukrainian”. They stressed that “Ukraine should take care of its own genofond and should ban adoption of children by foreigners”.
Following the results of discussion, the bill failed to receive enough votes to be adopted as a basis (123 votes “for”) and was recommitted to the specialized Committee for preparation to the repeated first reading (287 votes “for”).
At the demand of “Batkivshchyna” and “Svoboda” faction the break was announced to hold consultations.
After the end of the break, the Chairman of the “Batkivshchyna” faction Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed that three opposing factions addressed the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and the faction of majority with a suggestion not to consider the issue on the procedure of appointing re-election in five or seven problematic constituencies, submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Faction proposed to adopt a law that shall “prevent falsification; mechanism of withdrawing mandates of the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada; as well as manipulation of court judgments; and shall put a period to the procedure of appointing any early elections, including when under this or that reasons it is impossible to establish voting results”.
A.Yatsenyuk informed that opposing factions suggest establishing a working group that will prepare the joint project and refer it for consideration during the next plenary meeting.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada informed that leaders of five factions agreed to withdraw the governmental bill from consideration, work on it and consider the adjusted bill during the next plenary week.
The Chairman of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine Volodymyr Manzhosov presented the report of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council for 2012.
The speaker informed about the main trends of activity of the National Council in 2012 pertaining to the promotion of television and radio development; regulation, control ad supervision over the activity of television and radio organizations.
V.Manzhosov reported also on the problematic issues in the activity of the national Council, including funding (only one of five programs is financed), refinement of current legislation in this sphere, etc.
At the end, the Chairman of the National Council informed that the President of Ukraine approved the Report of the National Council.
V.Manzhosov addressed people’s deputies with a request to consider the issue in regarding the fourth member of the National Council of the Verkhovna Rada.
The Chairman of the Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information Mykola Tomenko noted that “one of the key strategic problems lies in the fact that information policy of the state has today transformed into the business policy in the information sphere”.
The Verkhovna Rada did not take the decision regarding the Report of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada suggested the specialized Committee study this issue and prepare the draft resolution.
The draft resolution on establishment of Temporary Inquiry Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on investigation of facts of violation of legislation in state procurements, inefficient use of state costs and abuse of official position by officials from the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine, other state enterprises, institutions and organizations in the sphere of healthcare and pharmacy was reported by the people’s deputy Andriy Ivanchuk. He argued the necessity of establishment of Temporary Commission saying that health care is one of the most pressing problems of the society today.
A.Ivanchuk addressed parliament members with a request to uphold his suggestion.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft resolution by 205 votes.
The draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re determination of prices (tariffs) was reported by the people’s deputy Pavlo Korzh.
The Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy Andriy Ivanchuk reported the decision of the Committee to the recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.
People’s deputies upheld the decision of the specialized Committee by 293 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis and in entirety the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine to ensure equality between single mothers and single fathers (Reg. No. 1179).
The bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re ensuring stable operation of strategic enterprises of the energy sector was adopted in the first reading (Reg. No. 1175).
The bill on amendments to article 107 of the Labour Code of Ukraine (re remuneration during holidays and non-work days) registered under No. 1220 was recommitted.
By results of voting, the bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re settling terms), registered under No. 1225, was rejected.
The Chairman adjourned the morning plenary meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the second session will be held on Thursday, May 16.