THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE CONTINUED ITS PLENARY WORK ON WEDNESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, declared the plenary meeting open and briefed on the results of Parliament´s work at the plenary meetings on 16 February.
The People´s Deputies presented their appeals, announcements and motions. People´s Deputy Serhii Sas stated that he had analyzed the Law "On the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" adopted on 10 February, signed by the President of Ukraine and promulgated in "Holos Ukrainy" newspaper that day. He stated that the text of the Law included certain regulations that had not been discussed by The Verkhovna Rada.
S.Sas addressed V. Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with a request to commission the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to settle this matter.
People´s Deputy Oleksandr Yefremov stated that the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine came into effect as the Law. Pursuant to it, the coalition shall submit the signatures of 226 People´s Deputies to confirm the activity of the coalition. "Otherwise, the activity of the coalition shall be terminated", - he stressed.
O. Yefremov addressed Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with a request to make an official declaration as to the activity of the coalition.
V.Lytvyn reminded of the problems with the Standing Orders in the time when the coalition was being formed. The Constitutional Court recognized the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as unconstitutional. Therefore, the constitutional regulation, pursuant to which, the coalition shall be formed by the Deputy Factions comprising a majority of the People´s Deputies, was effective.
The Chairman read out Clause 83 of the Constitution, pursuant to which a coalition of deputy factions comprising a majority of People´s Deputies of Ukraine in the constitutional membership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall be formed in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the basis of the results of election and on the basis of the harmonization of the political platforms.
V.Lytvyn underscored that the adopted Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine determined the rules and procedure of setting up and terminating the activity of the coalition in details. Item 4 of Clause 61 reads: "The coalition agreement shall be supplemented with the lists of members of deputy factions who formed the coalition, and with the personal signatures of the People´s Deputies. The lists of members of deputy factions are an integral part of the agreement".
The Chairman also reminded of the discussions concerning termination of activity of the coalition that took place at the session hall. V.Lytvyn reiterated his standpoint: "A new coalition shall be formed, provided 226 signatures are submitted. Otherwise, the acting coalition is legitimate".
V.Lytvyn deems necessary to exert every effort to prevent early dissolution of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that Clause 68 of the Standing Orders clearly determined the conditions for terminating the activity of the coalition: "1. The activity of a coalition is terminated if the authorities of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of relevant convocation are terminated.
2. if the number of People´s Deputies members of the coalition becomes less than envisaged by the Constitution of Ukraine.
3. if the coalition passes a resolution on the termination of its activity".
V.Lytvyn addressed the coalition board with a request to submit the documents proving the activity of the coalition. He referred to Clause 65 of the Standing Orders, pursuant to which, if one Faction withdraws, they have a ten-day period to recall or not recall this resolution.
V.Lytvyn addressed the coalition with a request to submit the documents proving the activity of the coalition within ten days.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada also addressed the People´s Deputies with the appeal to put away from their working places all the symbols that defines their political membership and orientation. "The Verkhovna Rada Regulations prohibits al the objects and placards in the session hall that do not concern the activity of the Verkhovna Rada, otherwise it would be forbidden by the Verkhovna Rada Secretariate personnel. The Verkhovna Rada is not to be decorated as a party headquarters", - V. Lytvyn stated.
The Peoples´ Deputies commenced the scrutiny of the Bill on ratification of the Agreement between Ukraine and Republic of Belarus on delivery of a person convicted to deprivation of freedom for the further service of sentence.
Mykola Onishiuk reminded that the Agreement between Ukraine and Republic of Belarus on delivery of a person convicted to deprivation of freedom for the further service of sentence was signed in Kyiv city on 12 June 2009.
Oleh Bilorus, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs briefed that the Committee recommends the Verkhovna Rada ratification of the Agreement.
The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Agreement between Ukraine and Republic of Belarus on delivery of a person convicted to deprivation of freedom for the further service of sentence by 305 votes.
The Bill on land auctions was reported by Volodymyr Kulinich, the Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Land Resources. He stated that the Bill suggests the implementation of the transparent mechanism of elaboration and conduction of land auctions, legislative regulation of the order and organization of the auctions activity.
In the result of the scrutiny the Bill was rejected (in favor 128 votes).
The Bill on amendments to the Law "On Personal Peasant Farming" in new version was reported by Roman Tkach, the Secretary of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations. He briefed that the bill defines the property status that is used for the conduction of the personal peasant farming, peculiarities of its members activity their rights and orders.
The People´s Deputies suggested the direction of the Bill for the repeated first reading. In the course of the voting the Bill failed to receive the necessary support and was directed for the further elaboration.
In the end of the morning meeting, the People´s Deputies discussed the Bill on amendments to the Law "On Personal Peasant Farming" (regarding the registration in the State Employment Service of Ukraine).
In the result of the scrutiny the governmental Bill was also rejected.
Oleksandr Lavrynovych, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adjourned the morning sitting.
Next plenary sitting of the sixth session will be held on Thursday, 18 February.