Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, opened the fifth session of the parliament of the sixth convocation and stated that the following representatives of the judicial authorities attended the opening ceremony: Andriy Stryzhak, Head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Vasyl Onopenko, Head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Oleksandr Medvedko, General Prosecutor of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Lytvyn called for the holding of a special Parliament´s meeting with the participation of the President of Ukraine and the Government to discuss further development of the country.
According to V.Lytvyn, it is necessary to discuss such crucial matters, as employment, pension provision, wages, public utility services, medical provision, and accessibility of basic foodstuffs.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that further life without economic basis as a foundation, with depreciation of the moral fundamentals meant acceleration of destruction, an example of the last years of the USSR.
V.Lytvyn believes that the situation at The Verkhovna Rada fully reflects the situation in the country: "Both the country and The Verkhovna Rada function in chaos. Groups and political forces adapt both the country and The Verkhovna Rada to the interests of certain leaders. Both the country and The Verkhovna Rada are characterized by the endless political conflicts".
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that "the limits of the reason has been trespassed a long time ago. We have not noticed it in the heat of the conflicts. We must stop. Everyone must make a reasonable choice".
Viktor Yanukovych stated that the Party of Regions demanded that the Government´s report concerning fulfillment of the budget be presented during the current week.
According to V. Yanukovych, the Party of Regions initiated setting up a national anti-crisis center on the basis of the shadow government.
Moreover, the leader of the Party of Regions suggested setting up a deputy constitutional panel to draft a new version of amendments to the Constitution before the presidential elections.
Ivan Kyrylenko, leader of the BYuT Faction, suggested combining the matter of the minimum wage and the minimum living wage with the issue concerning budget - 2010.
Ivan Kyrylenko stated: "We support social security of the people, provided it is agreed with the Government, the Budget Committee and will not result in galloping inflation and depreciation of hryvnia".
Ivan Kyrylenko called on the deputies with a request to refuse from blocking the parliamentary work.
The leader of the Communist Party announced the demand of the Party that the Bills of the communists be scrutinized at the current session. The said Bills appertain to the increase of minimum wage, imposition of moratorium on the increase of prices for foodstuffs, medicine, first-necessity goods and tariffs for public utility services.
According to P.Symonenko, "it is necessary to adopt the law on nationalization and prohibit sale of agricultural land plots, as well as sale of land to the foreign citizens".
P.Symonenko stressed that the Communist Party of Ukraine insisted that a State monopoly be imposed on the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods.
Mykola Martynenko, leader of "Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence" Faction, called on all the factions of the Parliament with a request to develop a common standpoint concerning address of the Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev.
Then the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine put the agenda to the vote. However, only 207 People´s Deputies out of 433 registered endorsed the resolution.
V.Lytvyn stated that the voting was inefficient, because "there was an order to destroy The Verkhovna Rada".
The Chairman could not explain the situation, when all the Bills suggested by the People´s Deputies were included into the agenda, but failed to collect the necessary number of votes.
V.Lytvyn stated: "If you are not willing to work, let us adopt a resolution on voluntary dissolution".
Then V.Lytvyn announced a recess till 11.40 a.m. and invited the leaders of the parliamentary factions to hold consultations in his cabinet.
After the recess, the People´s Deputies passed the Resolution "On the Agenda of the Fifth Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation" by 234 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine failed to adopt the Bill on Amendments to the State Budget for 2009 (re Increase of the Minimum Wage and the Minimum Living Wage) at the Second Reading and in its entirety. 200 People´s Deputies out of 385 registered supported the Bill.
Oleksandr Lavrynovych, First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced a thirty-minute recess.
The Party of Regions Faction immediately blocked the lectern and the presidium of The Verkhovna Rada.
After the recess, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that it would be reasonable to set up a working group and revise the bill on the social standards.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced his intention to address every People´s Deputy in a written form with a request "to meet at The Verkhovna Rada and then to hold a special meeting of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine".
Volodymyr Lytvyn suggested closing the meeting, as the schedule envisaged a morning meeting, and the agreements concerning parliamentary plenary work had not been reached.
The Chairman reminded of the fact that the People´s Deputies refused to work in the plenary regime for the current week and had to work in the committees and factions. The next plenary meeting will be held on 8 September.