22 December 2009, 11:16
On Monday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Ukraine for Presidential Election.
In the course of the meeting the Parties discussed the political situation in Ukraine in the framework of the election campaign.
V. Lytvyn declared that the campaign "is of threatening calm nature." "It seems that the leading candidates save their strength for the final battle", - he proclaimed expressing the thought that "main fighting will start after the first round of elections."
Heidi Tagliavini agreed with the fact that the present presidential campaign is considerable calm in comparison with the previous one.
The special attention was paid to the election legislation issue. "Unfortunately, no one considered with sensitivity my proposition regarding the taking into the consideration Venice Commission recommendations and exclusion from the law the article that was recognized by the Constitutional Court as such that contradict the Principal Law", - the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine briefed. V. Lytvyn emphasized that the amendments introduction were supposed prevent the court appeals after the election results.
According to him, on 17 January 2010 the amendments to the election legislation would not be introduced. V. Lytvyn does not exclude attempts to implement amendments to the election laws after the first round of elections.
The Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission also was interested regarding the possible violations that may influence the election results. Among other, V. Lytvyn has pointed out the attention on the peculiarities of the election committee formation and "attempts of certain political powers take over the control of the election committees members activity."
H. Tagliavin also raised a question concerning the possible threat of Ukraine division and public protests after the election results. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in convinced that in case such situation took place, "the parliament would be supposed to present show the social position as it is the only power institution that have not been made private."
H. Tagliavin announced that from 1 December 60 long term OSCE observes had started their work and they would be joined by 600 professionals. It is also envisaged that other parliamentary assemblies´ observers, cooperating with OSCE would arrive to Ukraine.