PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON MAY 15, 2014.
Having opened the morning plenary meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed that yesterday the First stage of the All-Ukrainian round-table was held in the Verkhovna Rada. “Our task is to come to an agreement, to initiate a dialogue with representatives of local self-government, workers of culture, scientists, citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, with those willing to find a way out of the crisis within the current law and the Constitution.
Way out of the situation lies only in the legal field. Law-enforcement structures will conduct anti-terrorist measures against those who raised weapons against their own country, those who carry out tasks of the other country on destabilization of the situation in the region and in the whole country”, he claimed.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that today, at night, near Kramatorsk, within the Anti-terrorist operation, a disguised terrorist military base was completely destroyed, a fortified area in Sloviansk was attacked and destroyed, a five-kilometer zone around a TV tower, broadcasting Ukrainian television in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and other regions of Donetsk Oblast, was completely cleaned up from terrorists.
Chairman of “Batkivshchyna” faction Serhii Soboliev made a statement. He informed that “on May 14, at 5:20 p.m. workers of Oblast and city administrations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs attempted to break into a party office of Vinnytsia Oblast organization of “Batkivshchyna” party, which is also a headquarters of the candidate for the post of President – Yulia Tymoshenko, in order to confiscate an officially printed newspaper”.
“This is an unprecedented case when the Ministry of Internal Affairs is used for political purposes to get even with somebody”, stressed S. Soboliev.
People’s deputy Yu.Mykhalchyshyn announced a statement of the “Svoboda” faction which “demands to put to vote today the issue on depriving odious Ukrainophobe Tsariov of parliamentary immunity”.
Oleksandr Turchynov instructed acting Prosecutor General and Minister of Internal Affairs to investigate the statement of the Chairman of “Batkivshchyna” faction.
On demand of the Party of Regions and the Communist Party of Ukraine factions, the Chairman announced a break.
After the break, the Chairman gave the floor to representatives of factions that demanded a break.
The Party of Regions representative M.Levchenko on behalf of the faction claimed that yesterday’s All-Ukrainian round-table in the Verkhovna Rada “which was called to settle the issues in the society and stop the blood-shed” has completely failed.
Chairman of the Communist Party of Ukraine faction P. Symonenko stated the faction’s principled position: to immediately stop the blood-shed, to stop “this terrorist operation, withdraw the troops and start to negotiate with people of Ukraine, with those willing to live in Ukraine, those willing to live in peace and harmony”.
After the speeches, Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that “the anti-terrorist operation is carried out in order to protect citizens of Ukraine. It is carried against those killing, robbing and kidnapping people, those armed people conducting war against Ukraine”.
The Chairman informed that at the Conciliatory Council meeting they discussed the issue on the possibility of adopting a respective Declaration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; for elaboration of this document’s text a group consisting of representatives from each faction, which would submit suggestions on stopping the Anti-terrorist operation “when weapons will be surrendered and all hostages will be freed”, may be formed. “We are ready for cooperation, for a dialogue; we are conducting this dialogue, we are working on amendments to the Constitution and on extending rights of local self-government, and on other important issues. At the same time, those who are conducting a war against Ukraine will receive an adequate response”, stressed Oleksandr Turchynov.
People’s deputies discussed the issue on ratification.
The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Guarantee Agreement (Ukraine: Comprehensive (Overall) programme of improving the safety of power-generating units at nuclear power plants) between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Reg. No. 0081); the Guarantee Agreement between Ukraine, as a Guarantor, and the European Atomic Energy Community, as a Loaner, on the Agreement of mechanism of granting a loan in the amount of EUR 300 mln, dd. August 7, 2013, between the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom” and the European Atomic Energy Community for implementation of the Comprehensive (Overall) programme of improving the safety of power-generating units at nuclear power plants (Reg. No. 0082); the Agreement (in the form of letters) between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on amendments to the Framework Agreement between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the activities of the Chornobyl fund “Shelter” in Ukraine dd. November 20, 1997 (Reg. No. 0083); the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China (Reg. No. 0079); the Protocol amending the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on the activity of railway transport (Reg. No. 0080).
After consideration of the issues on ratification, Chairman of the Party of Regions faction Oleksandr Yefremov claimed that “today in the east of Ukraine people are killed under the command of Oleksandr Turchynov who is sitting here now. When we asked to stop the Anti-terrorist operation you pretended that nothing happened. The Party of Regions faction thinks that it is cynical to work in this situation now in the sessions’ hall, and so, we are leaving”.
The Party of Regions faction left the sessions’ hall.
Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that there are now attempts to act destructively. He also stated that at the Conciliatory Council there was a suggestion to come to a joint declaration of all factions to disarm the criminals, free the hostages and stop the Anti-terrorist operation”. Neither communists nor the Party of Regions faction are interested in the result. They are interested only in destabilization of the situation”, he said.
People’s deputies included to the agenda and considered the draft law on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On elections of the President of Ukraine” re ensuring proper organization and conducting of the electoral process” (Reg. No. 4835).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety with 240 votes.
MPs considered in the first reading the draft law on amendments to the Law “On the Status of a People’s Deputy of Ukraine” (re ensuring activity) under Reg. No. 4772.
Following the results of the voting, the bill did not receive enough votes (199 in favour).
The Chairman early terminated the morning meeting, inviting leaders of factions and groups for conducting consultations.
At the beginning of the evening meeting, the Chairman informed that on May 14, the All-Ukrainian conference of worker of prosecutor’s office was held in Kyiv, where Acting Prosecutor General Oleh Makhnitskyi and judge of the Court of Appeal of Lviv Oblast Vasyl Holovatyi were elected as members of the High Council of Justice.
Newly elected members of the High Council of Justice Oleh Makhnitskyi and Vasyl Holovatyi took an oath to the Verkhovna Rada.
MPs then started adopting decisions on the discussed issues.
People’s deputy Oleksandr Myrnyi reported on the draft law on amendments to the Land and Forest Codes of Ukraine re maintaining security zones of electric power transmission objects. He claimed that this draft suggests clearly draw the line between responsibility of power transmission organizations, business entities, local self-government authorities and citizens who own forests, perennial plantations, land plots for maintaining security zones of electric power transmission objects according to requirements of legislation.
Member of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Mykhailo Apostol reported on the Committee’s decision to recommend that the Parliament adopt the bill as a basis.
After the discussion of the bill, the Chairman announced about forming the inter-faction deputies’ union “Renaissance of the state”, headed by people’s deputy Volodymyr Kupchak.
People’s deputy Natalia Ahafonova reported on the refined draft law on amendments to the Law “On Administrative Services” under Reg. No. 2149. Natalia Ahafonova informed that the refined bill includes remarks on determining an imperative provision regarding responsibility of fulfilling the law’s norms.
People’s deputies will adopt the decision regarding this bill at the next plenary meeting.
Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Andrii Kozhemiakin reported on the refined draft law on the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine (Reg. No. 3042). The draft suggests determine legal basis of organization, powers and operating procedures of the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine.
Andrii Kozhemiakin also informed about the Committee’s decision to recommend that the Parliament adopt the bill as a basis.
People’s deputies will adopt the decision regarding this bill at the next plenary meeting.
People’s deputy Volodymyr Dudka informed about the draft law on amendments to the Law “On Medicines” re improving the procedure of providing the population with medicines for treating socially dangerous or serious diseases (Reg. No. 3818). He said that this bill is aimed at improving the procedure of registering some medicines and simplifying the access of medicines, which received the status of orphan ones in the USA and in the EU, to the territory of Ukraine.
People’s deputy Oleksandr Kuzmuk reported on the draft law on amendments to article 13 of the Law “On social and legal protection of military men and their families” re providing privileges for receiving education for persons whose parents are military men (Reg. No. 2246).
Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence Serhii Hrynevetskyi informed about the Commiitee’s decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the draft as a basis.
People’s deputies also considered in the first reading the draft laws on amendments to the Law “On pensions for persons discharged from military service and certain other persons” (re increasing minimum pension for members of military men families in case of losing a family provider) under Reg. No. 4402; on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On development and state assistance to small and medium business in Ukraine” (re improving separate provisions) under Reg. No. 3614 and Reg. No. 3614-1.
People’s deputy Serhii Miroshnychenko reported on the Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re inheritance registration” with proposals of the President (Reg. No. 0985), and the bill on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (re imposing taxes on inheritance) under Reg. No. 4281.
People’s deputies discussed the bill and generally upheld it.
The decision regarding this bill will be adopted at the next plenary meeting
Oleksandr Turchynov adjourned the evening meeting.
The next plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada will be held on Friday, May 16.