a concise version
Dear colleagues,
Our aspirations and dreams about the future, about pride and unity, wisdom and love to Ukraine have been well illustrated and strongly evidenced at the Verkhovna Rada time and time again. Ukraine does open with the Ukrainian Parliament!
It’s in this very chamber that the great history of our Collegiality and Independence has been crafted. All the decisions of great moment were made when the majority merged with the active minority in this session hall. When the outs willingly cast their votes to the majority for the sake of national interests of the country. When a tolerant attitude used to overpower enmity, and members of parliament, with Ukraine in their hearts, stubbornly opposed evil and injustice.
With the adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty, there took place the restoration of Ukrainian parliamentarism. The country did receive an institution which represents and expresses the will of the whole Ukrainian people.
Declaration of Independence… the day when through the strength of words true patriots did convince the majority and thereby brought the dream of many generations to fruition.
Voting for the Constitution'96 – the night without sleep – and the night of justice.
It is my firm belief that alongside the Ukrainian language, culture and yearning for freedom, there is another key element in the DNA of the Ukrainian people - the rule of people.
I’d also like to remember that Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential country and all decisions of great importance must be made within these walls. And it happened many times. Suffice it to recall the events during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity later on, as well as when the Parliament of Ukraine did constitutionally entrench the Euro-Atlantic choice of the Ukrainian people, and then when also adopted the language law, having dotted the i’s on this issue for good. There is no chance to be in Ukraine the state language other than Ukrainian!
The updated Parliament of the IX convocation also made history by abolishing parliamentary immunity. At the same time, the present Parliament is also facing formidable challenges – the ongoing war and partial occupation of territories by the aggressor state Russian Federation, the “era of poverty” is still on, the people who do experience social injustice, the coronavirus pandemic that is changing the world ever rapidly, etc. And Ukraine cannot keep aloof from these processes.
We must remember that the Parliament, aside from its legislative and representative functions, has also to exercise control over the executive power. Today, more than ever, we ought to respect experience, expertise, professionalism, wisdom, modern approaches and knowledge in order to effectively respond to these challenges.
With just a call to unity I’d like to conclude this my statement. Unity and harmony for the good of Ukraine.
I’m also dreaming of a parliament of equality between men and women.
With my sincere gratitude I’d like to congratulate on the holiday all parliamentarians of the first convocation who did press the button "FOR" Ukraine on that very day 30 years ago.
Glory to
Ukraine!