ON TUESDAY 27 APRIL, THE PLENARY MEETING OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE WAS HELD.
Before the beginning of the morning sitting, the representatives of the coalition occupied the presidium, governmental box and tribune. The People´s Deputies, opposition representatives, covered their working places with national flags and occupied the aisles.
211 People´s Deputies were registered for the sitting by their cards.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine opening the morning sitting announced that on 26 April 2010 the Central Election Committee registered the People´s Deputies of Ukraine, V. Demchyshyn, O. Muts, M. Romaniuk, P. Tsiurko, S. Husarov, S. Vasiutin, O. Ehorova, V. Stoliar, Yu. Kovalevska, O. Kasianiuk, V. Zubanov, O. Fomin elected on 30 September 2007 in the multicandidate national election constituency.
Newly elected People´s Deputies put their oath before the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation.
The Chairman announced on joining of Ivan Sidelnyk, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine the personnel of the Deputies factions coalition "Stability and Reforms" in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
With the announcements, propositions the authorized representatives of the Deputies factions took floor.
The Bill "On Ratification of the Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the Stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the Territory of Ukraine" was reported by the First Deputy Minister Andrii Kliuev. He stated that the Agreement sets further terms of stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the territory of Ukraine. Since 28 May 2017, validity of the Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the Status and Terms of Stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the Territory of Ukraine, the Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet Division and Mutual Settlements related to the Black Sea Fleet Division and Stay of the Black Sea Fleet in the Territory of Ukraine of 28 May 1997 shall be prolonged for 25 years with further tacit prolongation for five-year periods, unless either Party notifies the other Party in a written form about the termination of Agreements not later than one year before the termination date.
He also added that the Agreement increases the rental payment for the stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the territory of Ukraine. Thus, since 28 May 2017, it shall consist of the payments of the Russian Federation in the amount of USD 100 million per year and extra funds obtained from the reduced price for gas imported by the Russian Party into Ukraine since the Agreement enactment.
Co-reporter of the Bill was the Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs Oleh Bilorus. He reminded that the signed in Kharkiv on 21 April Treaty between Ukraine and Russian Federation on Ratification of the Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the Stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the Territory of Ukraine envisages the immediate further prolongation of the military base lease in Sevastopol without any time restrictions. According to O. Bilorus, it contradicts the clause 17 and Transitional Provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine. "Thus the Treaty actually provides life-hold of the territory of Ukraine by the Russian Black Sea fleet", he stated.
The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs announced that the Central Scientific Expert Office in his report from 26 April emphasises the impossibility of the law adoption regarding the ratification of the Treaty without its previous scrutiny in the Constitutional Court on its harmonization with the Constitutional demands.
The Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada addresses the Constitutional Court with the appeal to scrutinize the issue on violation of the imperative demands of the clause 17 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Ratification of the Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the Stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the Territory of Ukraine" by 236 votes.
The Bill on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2010 was presented by Fedir Yarishenko, the Minister on Finance of Ukraine. He emphasised that The Law determines the revenue of the State Budget of Ukraine in the year 2010 in the amount of UAH 267.451.994,9 thousand, including the revenue of the general fund of the State Budget of Ukraine in the amount of UAH 218.691.258,1 thousand and the revenue of the special fund of the State Budget of Ukraine in the amount of UAH 48.760.736,8 thousand.
He also declared that the Bill ratified the expenditures the State Budget of Ukraine in the year 2010 in the amount of UAH 323.556.204,7 thousand, including the expenditures of the general fund of the State Budget of Ukraine in the amount of UAH 244.026.875,8 thousand and the expenditures of the special fund of the State Budget of Ukraine in the amount of UAH 79.529.328,9 thousand.
Pursuant to the Bill, the expected growth of the GDP totals 3,7%. The anticipated inflation rate totals 9,7%.
Chairman of the Committee on Budget Mykola Derkach announced the decision of the Committee to recommend the Parliament the adoption of the Bill as a basis and in its entirety taking into the consideration the recommendations of the Committee on Budget.
The People´s Deputies adopted the bill on State Budget of Ukraine for the year 2010 as a basis and in its entirety by 245 votes.
One of the two bills on Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" (re Parliamentary Opposition) was reported by Vasyl Kiseliov, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine. He stated that the Bill amends the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the part of the parliamentary opposition activity, the right of the People´s Deputies to unite into deputy groups, the procedure of electing the Deputy Chairpersons of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, etc.
He informed that under the Bill the non-faction People´s Deputies are entitled to form a Non-Faction Deputy Group. If a Non-Faction Deputy Group involves at least fifteen people, it can attend the sittings of the Conciliative Council with the right of a casting vote; introduce motions concerning constitution of a temporary ad hoc, temporary inquiry or ad hoc temporary inquiry panel; delegate one representative to report at the plenary meeting on every agenda issue. The Bill presupposes activity of several subjects of opposition, both oppositional associations of deputy factions and oppositional deputy factions, in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Bill was adopted as a basis and in its entirety as a Law by 237 votes.
The People´s Deputies included into agenda of the session the bill on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (regarding the taxation) under the registration No 6337 and on amendments to the resolution "On the Schedule of the Sixth Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation."
Resolution Draft «On Amendments to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "On the Schedule of the Sixth Session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation" was presented by Oleksandr Efremov, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Resolution was passed by 242 votes. Pursuant to the Resolution, on 28-30 April, the People´s Deputies shall work with the voters.
The Bill "On Amendments to certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine" (re Crediting and Promotion of Foreign Investment) was presented by Yurii Polunaev, the Secretary of the Committee on Finance and Banking. He stated that the bill amends the final provisions of the Law "On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine to overcome the Negative Consequences of the Financial Crisis". The Law lifts certain restrictions in the crediting in foreign currency. The amendments to clauses 2 and 13 of the Law "On Foreign Investment Environment" abolish the enhanced control and lift extra restrictions concerning foreign investment.
The People´s Deputies adopted the bill in the second reading and in its entirety by 240 votes.
The parliamentarians upheld the proposition of the Chairman not to conduct the afternoon sitting today.
28-30 April People´s Deputies will be working with the voters.
Next plenary meeting will be held on 11 May.