Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak “We highly appreciate the constructive approach of the PACE and readiness to provide practical assistance in settling domestic policy problems”

Press Service
Published on 20 December 2013, at 14:40

Ukraine is conscious that implementation of reforms and final fulfillment of our international obligations require carrying out a systematic constitutional reform. This was stressed by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak during the meeting with co-reporters of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin and Mailis Reps on Friday.

Greeting the PACE representatives in the Parliament of Ukraine, Volodymyr Rybak reminded that recently Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland visited Ukraine and expressed his opinion on creating preconditions for solving the political crisis in Ukraine. Moreover, according to him, a constructive conversation with members of the PACE Special Committee on monitoring the repeat parliamentary elections in Ukraine was made. The Chairman of the Parliament noted that members of the Special Committee “noted a calm atmosphere on the elections day and gave a positive assessment of organization of elections at electoral districts” in their statement.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, highly appreciating a constructive approach of the PACE and readiness to provide practical assistance in settling domestic policy problems, stressed that Ukraine counts on reasonable and objective assessments of political processes in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Rybak also stressed that our country’s course regarding the soonest completion of fulfilling obligations to the Council of Europe remains the same. He stated that Ukraine has reached specific results in implementing recommendations presented in the PACE Resolution No. 1862, as well as in previous documents of the Assembly. “Ukraine is conscious that implementation of reforms and final fulfillment of our international obligations require carrying out a systematic constitutional reform, as well as adopting several bills in key sectors of social life,” claimed the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. Aiming at this, a decision on forming the Constitutional Assembly was made.”

The Chairman of the Parliament named elaboration of the amendment to article 98 of the Constitution of Ukraine regarding the work of the Accounting Chamber among specific achievements of the Constitutional Assembly. He also reminded that in October of this year, the Verkhovna Rada previously approved amendments to the Constitution concerning reforming system of justice aiming at ensuring independence of judges from any influence of other state authorities. “This bill was reviewed by the Venice Commission and received positive conclusions of European experts,” he said.

Also, according to him, after a continuous joint work with the European Council experts, the draft law “On the Prosecutor’s Office”, which has undergone expertise of the Venice Commission and received its positive opinion, was elaborated and referred for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Rybak expressed conviction that “completion of reforming the prosecutor’s office will be one of the first issues to be considered by the Ukrainian Parliament after the political stability in the country is resumed.” “Its final adoption will be a victory of common efforts of Ukraine and the Council of Europe in the sphere of reforming our system of justice,” he stressed.

The Chairman of the Parliament underlined that Ukraine adheres to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe connected with reforming the electoral system. He noted that the Venice Commission has approved recommendations to electoral bills and activity of the Central Election Commission in June 2013. The Chairman informed that the bill on amendments to electoral legislation, adopted on November 21, stipulates establishment of foreign constituency; change of the procedure of forming district election commissions; reduction of the amount of registration caution money; introduction of limitation on the amount of electoral fund; and strengthening of requirements to information agencies that highlight elections, etc.

The Parties have also discussed current political situation in Ukraine. According to Volodymyr Rybak, “peaceful public meetings, held in support of Ukraine’s European integration, testify both to the activity of civil society in the state and to massive support of rapprochement with the EU on the part of Ukrainian people.” “This support in full corresponds to the official position of Ukraine that further aims to pool decisive efforts for the successful implementation of the Euro-integrational course of the state,” he stressed.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted that having realizing tension present in the society, it turned to be extremely useful to hold national round table discussion, the idea of which was from the very beginning upheld by the President of Ukraine.

He informed that the first meeting of this round table discussion was held during the previous week and the beginning of the dialogue on the ways to overcome crisis is an important achievement this discussion. “Today we continue working in this format and, I hope, we will reach mutual understanding on turning to normal life of the country,” stressed Volodymyr Rybak. He added that for the Ukrainian people “who have repeatedly demonstrated their wisdom, tolerance and loyalty to the European principles, the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and adherence to human rights are the fundamental principles in the development of a democratic society.”

In their turn, co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee expressed satisfaction with continuation of Ukraine’s Euro-integrational course, particularly, in the part of refinement of legislation in the sphere of the system of law-enforcement and work on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine. “We are happy that the work on the commitments Ukraine has taken to the Council of Europe in the part of adherence to human rights, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association shall continue,” noted Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin.

Commenting on the issue of inner political situation in Ukraine, co-rapporteurs expressed hope that the both parties “will show their will to compromise in order to sooner settle the problems that arose.”