PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014.
Having opened the morning meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that under the UN Resolution dd. December 4, 2000 today the World Refugee Day is celebrated. He stressed "regardless of all difficulties, Ukraine is doing everything possible so that people it provided shelter for feel here protected, free and secure".
Oleksandr Turchynov expressed hope that "together we will make possible that there will be no Ukrainians among refugees, and Ukrainians could live freely in their homes. In order to achieve this we must protect our country".
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada informed that according to the information of the Ministry of Defence, units of the Armed Forces approached Izvaryne and thus completed the operation of closing the border.
Oleksandr Turchynov addressed people's deputies with a request "to always support in their speeches the Armed Forces, the National Guard, law-enforcement structures that are fulfilling their constitutional duty and are conducting a heroic struggle protecting Ukraine...for the speeches not to contain any panic, particularly when women-deputies are making speeches and providing numbers of the deceased which are not proven".
The Chairman reminded that every Friday during a plenary week the Government Question Hour is held. Representatives of deputies' factions made a suggestion to grant a hearing to the information of the Cabinet of Ministers on the issue of health care of the population of Ukraine and preparation of the economic part of the Association Agreement.
Oleksandr Turchynov gave the floor to the Deputy Minister of Health Vasyl Lazoryshynets, as the Minister of Health could not be present due to health issues.
However, people's deputies did not give the official a chance to make a speech demanding a report of the Minister himself.
Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that "when ministers are hiding from the deputies, deputies can make respective decisions regarding such ministers".
After another attempt to prevent the Deputy Minister from speaking, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada asked MPs to eventually give him a chance to make a speech.
The Deputy Minister informed about developments in the Ministry for over last three months. According to the speaker, the Concept of health care development was elaborated. He spoke in detail about reforms of the filed, particularly, about introducing budgetary-insurance system of health care.
The official also informed about the state procurements, and answered the questions on providing medical care in regions of the anti-terrorist operation. The Deputy Minister also answered other questions.
Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Pavlo Sheremeta reported on preparation of the economic part of the Association Agreement. In his words, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, and other ministries involved in this work are completing the calendar plan on introducing those points necessary for maximum use of possibilities an open European marker provides.
P.Sheremeta informed that the Ministry always analyses emerging risks. According to him, main risks are mostly connected with the situation in the east.
The Minister also reported on changes made in the tax system. In his words, respective work is now being completed, it is suggested to decrease the taxes to eight, change the ideology of the tax system, etc.
Acting Minister of Defence Mykhailo Koval claimed he received information from the Chair of the General Headquarters, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that our troops had completed surrounding of the problematic region and together with the State Guard Service and the National Guard restored the State Border of Ukraine.
M.Koval
then reported on the matter of providing Ukrainian military men with body
armour. "As of now, we have 14 thousand items of body armour", he
said, and showed body armour of Ukrainian production which completely
corresponds to all demands. The price of body armor is UAH 4120.
M.Koval informed that the Defence Ministry “experiences a great opposition”. “For example, the procedure of purchase of body armor was suspended due to the decision of the standing administrative collegium of the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine in view of consideration of complaints regarding violation of legislation in the sphere of state procurement of June 18 No. 646. Consideration of complaint is set for June 26, this year,” he informed.
The Defence Minister informed that “under international agreements, we will be delivered 2 thousands of American body armor and 2 thousands of Kevlar American helmets.” “We are doing everything possible to protect our people.”
The Defence Minister informed also that armored vehicles are being continuously sent to terrorists from the side of the Russian Federation.
The people’s deputies asked the Defence Minister whether the Defence Ministry is ready to impose a state of martial law on the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and several other questions. The Defence Minister responded to the questions of the people’s deputies.
Summing up, Oleksandr Turchynov noted that he has been the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for one hundred days. “You cannot image the conditions in which our army was being restored. We have been restoring the army together. No one else apart from our army and the National Guard is interested in protecting our country. This is our responsibility,” stressed the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
Oleksandr Turchynov addressed the people’s deputies with a calling “this is a very complicated and responsible situation. We are not in need of emotions, we are in need of active actions of the Parliament, government and our armed forces. We need to support them. Our heroes die there in complicated conditions. There is no comfort there. Sometimes they even lack food. We will make the government and the Defence Ministry provide the army with logistics.”
The Chairman informed that the people’s deputies that communicated with parents of the deceased heroes addressed him. “7 heroes burnt after the armored carrier was shot,” he noted and suggested honor them.
The people’s deputies held a moment of silence in memory of 7 military men from the 24th separate mechanized brigade “Pivnich”, who died in battle near Yampol.
Government Question Hour ended.
The people’s deputies considered several bills in the second reading.
The draft law 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), registered under No. 4402, was reported by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Defence and Security Viktor Razvadovskyi.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill in the second reading and in entirety as a law by 239 votes.
The people’s deputies upheld one more bill on amendments to article 13 of the Law “On Social and Legal Protection of Military Men and Members of their Families” (re granting education privileges for persons whose parents are military men) (Reg. No.2246) by 246 votes.
The people’s deputies did not uphold the bill registered under No. 0931.
The Verkhovna Rada prolonged work of the Interim Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on investigating facts of homicide of citizens in the cities of Odesa, Mariupol and other cities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts until September 5, this year.
The respective draft resolution was adopted by 228 votes.
Following the results of voting, the bill registered under No.2629 was rejected.
Further on, the meeting was headed by Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi, who read out deputies’ inquiries.
The people’s deputies took the floor with statements, announcements and proposals.
The Presiding adjourned the plenary session.
The people’s deputies will work with electorate on June 23-27.
Next plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada will be held on Thursday, July 1.