PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE EIGHTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 7.
Opening the morning sitting of the Parliament, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn announced that the Prime Minister of Ukraine, government members, Head and judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Prosecutor General, Head of the High Administrative Court, Head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Head of the Accounting Chamber, Ombudsperson of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Head of the Central Election Commission, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Head of the State Property Fund, Head of the Anti-Monopoly Committee, Head of the High Council of Justice, Head of the State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting, Head of The Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Head of the Ministerial Council of Crimea, heads of regional councils and administrations, representatives of the diplomatic corps were present at the session.
President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych delivered an Annual Address to The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "On the Domestic and Foreign Situation of Ukraine in 2011."
The President of Ukraine stated, "A year ago, immediately after the presidential elections, I addressed the Ukrainian nation, outlining the future action plan in economy, humanitarian sector, domestic and foreign policy. I made a forthright statement that changes facing our society require concerted efforts, trust and patience. I also stressed that our choice modernization of Ukraine is irreversible." V. Yanukovych declared that policy of drastic transformations would be implemented under the conditions of global instability, new crises and threats "which should be duly prevented and taken into account."
"Global changes temper the strong. From this lectern, I would like to appeal to every Ukrainian: stop complaining and humbling yourself. Ukraine is a powerful and ambitious state. It is high time we demonstrated the Ukrainian nature, proving to ourselves and the world that Ukraine is a country-leader," V. Yanukovych stressed.
Dwelling upon the capacities and outlooks of economic modernization, the President stated that industrial and scientific potential of our state is unutilized. However, Ukraine has a unique geographic location, which arranges ideal conditions for placing productions aimed at both the EU market and the Eurasian region. "Ukraine is a leader by the reserves of black soil, and has the prerequisites for agrarian leadership in the modern world. Still, powerful human capital assets are essential. Despite the crisis in the educational system, we still have a full-fledged system of professional training. National academic and university science has a great potential. There is a large pool of educated and professional labour power," stated V. Yanukovych, underscoring that these advantages form a basis for the development strategy till the year 2020.
However, assessing the work of the government institutions, the President admitted, "We managed to implement no more than one third of ideas and plans for 2010." Analyzing poor efficiency of the authorities, V. Yanukovych stressed, "Red-tape government machine, which survived under any power, is mechanically trying to preserve its customary methods of governance, administrative capacities, and corruptive schemes of shady earnings. Big and small national business adopted a wait-and-see attitude of either critic or observer. Even the business protests were rather a critical response to the Government´s actions than a meaningful suggestion with specific and well-grounded action plans for the authorities." The President called for ceasing procrastination and inertia, and overcoming politicians´ confusion and bureaucratic sabotage. "The demand for quality changes is the key requirement for the authorities, business and public," summed up V. Yanukovych.
The President of Ukraine stated that clear-cut and socially significant goals would make the reforms a common cause of the state, business and civil society. He singled out the goals: eradication of corruption; overcoming of drug abuse (distribution of drugs and drug trafficking reached the level of a national threat); particular attention to the health care; educational reform. Another priority of social changes is the pension reform. Implementation of new projects in the cultural sphere is also topical.
The President of Ukraine stressed that economic transformations launched last year are only gaining momentum. The plan of reforms includes 21 areas, each of which is specified in the National Action Plan.
He admitted that national industry is still dominated by the outdated technological organization and production of lower value-added goods. The level of energy consumption in Ukraine exceeds the average rates in the CIS, and is three times higher than the level in the economically developed countries. The President of Ukraine considers it as a main reason for Ukraine´s overreliance on the import of energy resources.
The President of Ukraine drew attention to the unexploited potential of home investment. He believes that use of these resources will attract public investments in the future. The Government has already developed the tools required.
V.Yanukovych informed that the Committee on Economic Reforms had singled out three important unused resources of development: deregulation and support of business initiative; facilitation of privatization; land relations reform.
In the second part of his speech, the President of Ukraine dwelled upon the foreign situation of Ukraine. He reminded that a revised National Security Strategy of Ukraine had been developed in 2010; a new Military Doctrine that considers the changes in the politico-military situation and the non-aligned status of the country had been drafted; a new concept of reforms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is being drawn up.
V.Yanukovych stressed that non-aligned status is a cornerstone of Ukrainian foreign and security doctrine. "Ukraine considers a non-aligned status as a consistent stance of protecting the national interests without participation in the military unions, which arranges pre-conditions for the development of partner mutually beneficial relations with other states and international organizations," he stated. The primary goal is support of the course for global nuclear disarmament, active participation in the formation of the all-European security system, and search for ways to demilitarize the European continent.
"Ukraine will continue to cooperate with NATO, implementing common projects with the OSCE, CSTO, and other regional security institutions. Ukraine has always contributed to the global peace and stability. Ukraine will continue to participate in the UN peace-making operations," V.Yanukovych stressed.
V.Yanukovych stated that Ukraine´s course for European integration had never impeded development of strategic partnership with Russia.
The President of Ukraine stated that cooperation between Ukraine and the Customs Union would be based on the assumption that bilateral relations shall be grounded on the mutual respect for the national interests.
The President of Ukraine emphasized that Ukraine would further develop strategic partnership with the United Nations of America on the basis of the Charter of 2008, and remain a reliable partner of the United States in supporting strategic stability and security.
"It is implementation of these tasks that constitutes our common national goal," concluded V.Yanukovych.
The Chairman announced a recess in the plenary meeting.
Adam Martyniuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, informed about the results of work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during the plenary meeting on April 6.
The bill on State Service, submitted by the President of Ukraine, was presented by Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Minister of Justice of Ukraine.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 263 votes, three basic norms being excluded on the ban on party membership for state officials, on assistants-consultants, on retirement of state officials at the age of 65.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized several draft resolutions on dismissal of judges.
BYuT-Batkivshchyna and Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defense factions addressed the Chairman with a request to announce recess or give them floor for the speech.
Arsenii Yatseniuk, Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defense faction representative, assessed the Presidents´ annual address. "There was no specific information about further state development! The Head of State should have proposed a plan of price and tariffs stabilization in Ukraine, first of all, as well as the plan on the unemployment rate reduction and corruption counteraction. The fourth item should have been a plan of Ukraine´s integration to the European structures, and signing of agreements on association and visa free regime. Instead, the President gave some vogue predictions that the Ukrainian land would soon enter the market, and the second wave of privatization like in the 1990s is expected. I am convinced that the Head of State should have seriously pondered over his responsibility for the situation in the state", stated A. Yatseniuk.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted several resolutions on early elections on June 19, 2011.
Parliamentarians failed to uphold the draft resolutions on holding of early elections of Kyiv city council and Kyiv mayor (‘in favor´ 55 votes) and on holding of early elections of Chernivtsi city council and Chernivtsi mayor (‘in favor´ 56 votes).
In the end of the morning sitting, the People´s Deputies started to scrutinize the amendments to the bill on support of the fiscal measurement of natural gas.
The bill was adopted in entirety by 232 votes.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized two governmental bills on improvement of Ukrainian legislation regarding streamlining of enterprise initiation.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis the bills on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine regarding streamlining of enterprise initiation and on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine to streamline the procedure of termination of legal entities and sole proprietors.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized and adopted in entirety the bill "On Amendments to the Law "On State Budget of Ukraine for 2011" (regarding State Budget Subventions to the Local Budgets for Settling Arrears in Differences between Heat Energy Tariffs).
The Parliamentarians scrutinized and adopted in entirety the bills that were put on the agenda during the morning sitting - "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for the Year 2011" and "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine."
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted as a basis the following bills: on amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine (regarding people's assessors) and on amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding governmental support of agricultural development.
The Verkhovna Rada also adopted the following bills in the first reading: on amendments to certain legislative acts regarding sequestration connected with terrorism counteraction and financial operations suspended under the decision based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution, and the order of access to such assets and on amendments to certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding prevention of legalization (laundering) of illegally obtained income.
The following bills were adopted in entirety: "On Amendments to the Law "On Licensing System in the Economic Sector"; "On Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding Cancellation of the Legal Body and Sole Proprietor State Registration Certificates."
The People´s Deputies repeatedly scrutinized the bill on the Fundamentals of Corruption Counteraction in Ukraine in the second reading.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On the Fundamentals of Corruption Counteraction in Ukraine" by 277 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada commissioned the Committee on Fighting Organized Crime and Corruption and Central Judicial Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat to introduce editorial edits to the text of the bill, considering the suggested amendments.
In the end of the meeting, People´s Deputies adopted the bill "On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding Governmental Support of Agricultural Development."
The Chairman adjourned the afternoon sitting.
Next plenary meeting of the eighth session will be held on Friday, April 8.