20 October 2009, 20:19
On Tuesday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Baroness Hayman, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, and John Berkow, Speaker of the House of Commons.
The participants of the meeting discussed further development of bilateral relations and extension of the inter-parliamentary aspect.
V.Lytvyn stated that Ukraine was concerned with the promotion of relations between the countries at the parliamentary level, extension of contacts at the level of parliamentary committees, factions and parties represented at the parliaments of Ukraine and Great Britain.
According to V.Lytvyn, enhancement of importance and culture of parliamentarism is a priority task for Ukraine. "The long-lasting period of authoritarian power is still evident. It is important to distribute the authorities and provide for the mechanism of restriction and balance", - he stated.
At the meeting with Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, the Parties dwelled upon the principles of functioning of the bicameral parliament. According to V.Lytvyn, the idea of its formation in Ukraine "is usually proposed by the presidents whose period of authorities is terminated". The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine explains this fact by "the unwillingness of the State leaders to establish direct relations with the Parliament that is usually inconvenient for them, and their wish to have the upper chamber as a favourable mediator".
However, this matter was considered not urgent for the country. V.Lytvyn commented upon a more topical issue related to the fact that the Parliament "can not exist without a majority, the majority is held hostage to the Government, hence, the Parliament can not demonstrate a principled independent standpoint".
V.Lytvyn stressed the necessity of altering the election system and refusing from the election of parliament members by the closed party lists.
At the meeting with the Speaker of the House of Commons, V.Lytvyn and John Berkow called for the promotion of bilateral relations by means of developing further cooperation with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed his hopes that Ukraine can rely on the support of the British Parliament "in the implementation of strategic partnership between the countries to the benefit and both nations and European community".
The Speaker of the House of Commons expects that bilateral relations between Ukraine and Great Britain, as well as between the Parliaments of both countries, will be "strong and long-lasting".
V.Lytvyn invited J.Berkow to make an official visit to Ukraine.
V.Lytvyn also met the deputies of the European Union Committee of the House of Lords headed by Lord Roper, Committee Chairman, to discuss Ukraine´s pursuits towards European integration and further development of bilateral relations in the significant spheres.
V.Lytvyn also met the members of the All Party Parliamentary Ukraine Group headed by John Grogan, Chairman of the Group.
As it was reported, on 19-20 October, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made an official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.