PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2014.
264 people’s deputies registered to participate in the plenary meeting.
Having opened the morning meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov claimed “taking into account danger of direct military intervention, further aggression in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which the Russian Federation plans or tries to cover by a farce called “referendum” and which will never be recognized neither by Ukraine nor by the whole civilized world, and all this danger, I singed the Decree “On partial mobilization”. This decree comes into force after its adoption by the Verkhovna Rada”.
According to the Chairman, the first issue for today is the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On partial mobilization”.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that yesterday the government submitted amendments to the state budget for 2014 for consideration of the Parliament. The aim of these amendments lies in funding priority needs of the Armed Forces and the National Guard. “In order to ensure funding of the army under horrible conditions of economic crisis, and we do not have any other choices, we have to do this,” he stressed.
On request of the Party of Regions and the CMU factions, a break in the plenary meeting was announced.
After the break, people’s deputies considered the draft law on adopting the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On partial mobilization”.
Secretary of National Security and Defence Council Andrii Parubii reported on the bill. He read the bill’s text.
A.Parubii also informed that yesterday, on Sunday, a meeting on National Guard was held.
The NSDC Secretary also informed that in the east and the south of Ukraine provocations are tried to be exercised now not only by citizens of the Russian Federation but by employees of elite special units that are trying to arrive to Ukraine with weapons, and that are trying to implement a joint plan of the same scenario that was conducted in Crimea. According to him, they were trying to seize buildings of Oblast administrations and state authorities in the southern-east Oblasts under the code name “Russian spring”. They planned to elect people’s governors at national people’s meetings, and in a week they planned a so-called “procession” to Kyiv.”
A.Parubii also explained the meaning of “partial mobilization” by reading out a respective clause of the current law.
A.Parubii informed that an emergency operations center was formed at the National Security and Defence Council, consisting of representatives of all law-enforcement departments, that considers operational issues on security and defence. Moreover, an expert advisory council was formed at the National Security and Defence Council which includes the most authoritative experts on issues of security and defence, experts who have enough experience to give recommendations.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety with 275 votes.
Chairman of the sub-committee of the Committee on National Security and Defence Oleksandr Kuzmuk reported on the draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re service in military reserve, elaborated for the second reading. He said that the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt this draft in entirety.
People’s deputies adopted this bill in entirety with 276 votes.
Before consideration of the next issue, Oleksandr Turchynov claimed the economy is in a very difficult state, having “an enormous budget gap.” “The government gathered for an extraordinary meeting yesterday under these conditions, and adopted proposals on funding priority needs of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and defence in amount of nearly UAH 7 bn,” he claimed.
Minister of Finance Oleksandr Shlapak reported on the draft law on amendments to the Law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2014”. “We need UAH 7,6 bn in order to carry out mobilization in three months. Considerable amount of these funds are located in main spending units of budgetary funds. Thus, a sum suggested for redistribution is UAH 6 bl 882 m.”
O.Shlapak also explained where these funds can be found. According to him, “there are no opportunities besides redistribution of expenditures in the State Budget for 2014”.
The speaker informed that the bill suggests: take over UAH one billion from centralized capital expenditures; over UAH one billion – from the Regional Development Fund; nearly UAH 600 m – from the Ministry of Regional Development, etc.
According to O.Shlapak, these funds are suggested to be concentrated in the Reserve Fund.
Representatives of deputy factions and groups participated in the discussion. Speakers from the coalition upheld the bill. Thereat, they made several proposals regarding reallocation of certain funds.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety by 243 votes.
Faction representatives discussed the decisions taken.
Chair of the Batkivshchyna faction S.Soboliev noted that the decisions adopted provide the opportunity to enter a very important stage of preparation to repel an aggressor. He suggested additionally adopt several more decisions.
Leader of the “Sovereign European Ukraine” group Ihor Yeremeiev deems that political forces that support separatist calls should make clear statements and condemn all the politicians and deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that participate in these actions.
Representative of “Svoboda” faction Yurii Syrotiuk noted that “international guarantees regarding Ukraine’s security do not work.”
Yu.Syrotiuk called on to strengthen not only the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard, but also the State Border Service.
Representative of “UDAR” faction Iryna Herashchenko suggested ratify the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples this week already and recognize the Crimean Tatar people indigenous Crimean people in order to protect them from possible ethnic cleansing.
Representative of the Party of Regions Nestor Shufrych noted that there should be unity under present circumstances.
He explained that the stand regarding the Decree “On partial mobilization” was constructive and univocal.
Faction of the Party of Regions also insisted on establishment of the Temporary Inquiry Commission to investigate events of February 18-20.
Chairman of “Svoboda” faction Oleh Tiahnybok informed about the attack on the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow. He suggested that parliamentary leadership should address the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request to immediately recall the Ukrainian Ambassador in Moscow for consultations.
After the speeches, the people’s deputies considered cadre issue.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed O.I.Nalyvaiko the Head of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada set early elections of Cherkasy city council for May 25, 2014.
The Verkhovna Rada has early terminated authorities of the following people’s deputies: Arsen Avakov, Maksym Burbak, Liudmyla Denisova, Oleh Makhnitskyi, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, Andrii Parubii, Pavlo Petrenko and Oleh Syrotiuk.
The people’s deputies scrutinized the address of the Party of Regions to consider and adopt the draft resolutions on establishment of temporary special commissions of the Verkhovna Rada to control and investigate high-profile criminal cases in order to prevent political repression as well as avoiding of punishment by high-ranking officials that committed crimes (Reg. No. 4468 and 4469).
The Chairman informed that these resolutions were not considered by the specializing Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and there are no names of members of these commissions provided. He suggested consider the draft resolutions during the next plenary meeting and entrusted the abovementioned Committee to consider these draft resolutions and include them into the next plenary meeting’s agenda.
At the end of the meeting, Chairman addressed the people’s deputies with a request to work in the committees and not leave Kyiv. He noted that he will convene parliamentarians in case of necessity to adopt important decisions and adjourned the plenary session.