06 September 2011, 13:28
NINTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION AND THE GRAND ASSEMBLY OF THE PARLIAMENT DEDICATED TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROCLAMATION OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF UKRAINE WAS OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced that the following high-ranking officials were present at the opening ceremony: President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Prime Minister of Ukraine M.Azarov, members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Head of the Higher Economic Court of Ukraine, Head of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine, Head of the Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine on Civil and Criminal Cases, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine, Head of the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine, Head of the High Council of Justice, and Head of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee.
Presidents of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk and Leonid Kuchma, speakers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the previous convocations, former prime ministers of Ukraine, representatives of the diplomatic corps, heads of churches and religious organizations, People´s Deputies of the sixth and the first convocations, and other officials attended the Grand Assembly.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, opened the ninth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation and the Grand Assembly of the Parliament dedicated to the 20th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of Ukraine.
The choir performed the National Anthem of Ukraine.
Cadets of Kyiv I.Bohun Military Lyceum brought the State Flag of Ukraine into the session hall.
The choir performed the spiritual anthem of Ukraine "Prayer for Ukraine."
President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych delivered a speech at the Grand Assembly of the Parliament.
V. Yanukovych declared, "This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of independence of Ukraine. We have one goal effective policy, modernization of Ukraine, arrangement of conditions for the Ukrainian people to live in a powerful European state to be proud of."
According to the President of Ukraine, important steps have been taken to implement the reforms; reforms of pension scheme, land sector, healthcare, education, housing and public utility services have been launched; conditions for business development have been arranged; corruption counteraction campaign has been launched; profound changes in the judicial system have been initiated. "I want to stress that timely and high-quality legislative support was rendered in all these spheres," V. Yanukovych stressed.
Characterizing economic situation, the President of Ukraine stated, "Stable activity of the authorities allowed restoring positive trends in the economy. For seven months of 2011, economic growth has totaled 5 per cent. Almost all key economic sectors demonstrated growth: industry grew by 8,7 per cent, construction - by 14 per cent, agriculture by 9 per cent. This year we expect to harvest more than 50 million ton of crops, i.e. by 11 million ton more than last year. Domestic consumer market revived. Financial situation is balanced and stable; exchange rate of hryvnia is also stable and predictable. Export of Ukrainian goods and services for the first half-year has grown by 42 per cent in comparison with a similar period of the last year."
Among the short-term priorities of law-making, the President of Ukraine singled out the agricultural reform, especially the land reform. "The Law "On the State Land Register" was adopted. This law lays ground for lifting the moratorium on the sale of agricultural lands. Other bills, including the bill on land market, will be scrutinized and adopted. The bills concern strengthening of supervision over the use of land resources, conclusion of pledge agreements, mortgage of land plots, and title to land plots," the President of Ukraine informed.
He called for legislative support of business environment. "Topical tasks include reforms of the licensing system, enhancement of the laws on bankruptcy and counteraction to the illegal merge and amalgamation of businesses, strengthening of responsibility for the violation of laws on state registration," the President of Ukraine declared.
He attaches great importance to the reform of administrative services. "I am going to bring forward an urgent bill on administrative service to lay the basis for the activity of subjects of administrative services, rights and obligations of individuals and legal entities concerning use of administrative services," V. Yanukovych informed.
Speaking on modernization of basic sectors and infrastructure, he drew attention of the parliament members to the following issues: arrangement of conditions for specific regulators in the energy and transport sector; support of energy saving, and strengthening of energy security; financial stabilization of energy enterprises and related markets; development of domestic port infrastructure.
The President of Ukraine called on the People´s Deputies to support institutional transformations, reform of the security sector, implementation of the administrative reform and ‘a closely related anti-corruption policy.´
"Modernization depends on basic development and democratic mechanisms," V. Yanukovych declared. He stressed that adoption of the Law "On Access to Public Information" is an essential move in this direction. The President of Ukraine believes that "timely adoption of the Law "On Non-Governmental Organizations", which incorporates both national practice and positive international experience, will be another important step."
V. Yanukovych called for reforming election laws and local self-government, implementing judicial reform, and supporting European integration. "Among the crucial tasks there is the reform of the laws on criminal procedure and the penitentiary system, the change of roles and functions of the General Prosecution, and adoption of the Election Code," V. Yanukovych stressed.
Before the speech of the President of Ukraine, representatives of the opposition factions left the session hall in protest against political repressions in Ukraine.
Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the first and the third convocations, People´s Deputy Ivan Pliushch delivered a speech at the Grand Assembly of the Parliament dedicated to the 20th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of Ukraine. He declared, "Twenty years for the state and society is the biggest historic victory, and the Verkhovna Rada and the People´s Deputies of the first convocation contributed to it."
I. Pliushch regretted, "The most pressing problem of Ukraine is poverty, especially for the elderly people, which was acknowledged in the President´s Address to the Ukrainian People."
I. Pliushch stressed, "Various reforms did not yield the desired results. We have to realize that socio-economic transformations and liberal future of our society and state had no meaningful basis."
I. Pliushch attaches great importance to the role of the Ukrainian language, stating that the law adopted in 1989 is the best one.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered a speech at the Grand Assembly of the Parliament dedicated to the 20th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated, "The twentieth anniversary of independence and attitude to this event show our understanding of the historical role of Ukraine, our unity with the country and the nation, our participation in the state building and consolidation of the Ukrainian nation." "It confirms the ability to cast an objective look on the whole country its history, economy, territory and people," he stated. "I guarantee that we will then make more objective conclusions and assessments, discover lots of useful facts and warnings. There will be less moaning and complaining. There will be more pride."
According to the Head of the Parliament, "Ukraine is a complex country." "It is sensitive to criticism. We should realize and understand it. But it is our country. And we have to be proud of our country, like we are of our parents. One can not develop if everything is believed to be negative," V.Lytvyn admitted.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that the Independence Act, as well as the Declaration of State Sovereignty, were adopted owing to the will, responsibility, and understanding of the historic moment by the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of the first convocation. "They felt inevitability of the historic moment, relied on the public mood and realized it by their seminal resolution. This resolution was later ratified at the all-Ukrainian referendum," the Head of the Parliament stated.
"The lessons of a twenty-year-long state development and the tasks for the future require responsible acts from the Verkhovna Rada and all of us. They demand collective leadership. Leadership not in the proclamation of political formula, but in the implementation of fundamental principles which lie in the basis of the civilized world and Ukrainian soul," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine declared.
"The Verkhovna Rada, as an open institution, is absolutely responsible for the processes in the state during the years of independence. Unfortunately, we are also responsible for the failure to perform crucial changes in the state", the Head of the Parliament admitted.
According to him, "all that was called reforms in previous periods resembles revolution in general, especially considering the old-fashioned approaches we used."
"However, we should accept the latest criticism and admit that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has been in the epicenter of the Ukrainian life for twenty years, has kept the state in a civilized framework and has supported its stable development. It assumed all the responsibility in the crucial moments," he stressed.
"While the Verkhovna Rada exists, even in its present form careless and unpopular Ukraine will exist. Ukraine will continue its development as a sovereign and independent, democratic, social and legal state", the Head of the Parliament emphasized.
According to V. Lytvyn, the Verkhovna Rada is an embodiment and creation of our society, its state and values, so it represents moods and attitudes, whereas social conflicts give rise to harmonized positions and state course.
"We shall find grounds to overcome dissatisfaction of our citizens by well thought-out, resolute and reformative work; we should inspire our state for new development. However, to implement our plans we need social dialogue and coordination", the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada stressed.
V. Lytvyn stated that top-down state building will not have foundation and results. V. Lytvyn is convinced that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "is obliged to generate impulses for the all-Ukrainian understanding." "It is an extremely difficult task. However, it is the only way to our future, considering the key tasks and challenges on the state agenda," the Chairman explained.
"Our state has already been formed, but its further development depends on every citizen", V.Lytvyn believes.
"Ukraine can realize its historical chance, becoming an effective democratic country," V.Lytvyn stressed. "We shall exert efforts to be recognized as a true European nation which does not require sighted persons and instructions. We shall assert ourselves as confident citizens in a confident state, able to think independently and pursuit our own interests", V. Lytvyn declared. "The world respects those who have self-esteem."
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine mentioned the conditions necessary for Ukraine to enter a new stage: stable and democratic public authorities, responsibility before the citizens, and responsibility of the citizens for their choice.
The above-mentioned facts concern the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, since it shall not lose its status as a publicly elected body. V. Lytvyn is convinced that our state requires "at least minimal effective party system and adopted electoral legislation."
"A general conclusion is as follows: the state needs effective changes and radical reforms as imposed by the present-day situation and suggested by the President. Besides, the changes shall be made from within. Time of discussion and trying is over. We need effective work", the Head of the Parliament summed up.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn called for holding special parliamentary hearings to draft and adopt a theoretically grounded and practicable concept of legislation development of Ukraine.
V.Lytvyn reminded that in 1990 only 13 codes and 26 laws were in effect in Ukraine, while now there are 3854 laws, 625 of which are fundamental or primary ones. 1052 laws formalize ratification or accession of Ukraine to the international agreements. 34 legislative acts adopt national socio-economic programs.
V.Lytvyn stated that primary formation of domestic national base had been completed, which actually corresponded to the first stage of state building.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine singled out two crucial tasks. The first task is to offer legislative support to further state development, and harmonize the laws with the European standards. "Key objectives were determined by the Head of State," he informed.
The second task, according to V.Lytvyn, is revision of the current legal environment, and its harmonization with the present-day situation.
The Head of the Parliament deems necessary to implement constitutional provisions to make the Constitution work. "Ukraine still does not support development of the Constitution or strengthen its building function, although 130 constitutional laws have been adopted to support realization of 26 clauses of the Constitution. At the same time, the laws on the local self-government have been amended 50 times, and officially interpreted by the Constitutional Court 8 times; the law on the status of People´s Deputies of Ukraine has been amended 20 times, and officially interpreted by the Constitutional Court 13 times," V.Lytvyn informed.
The Head of the Parliament deems necessary to adopt a new version of the law on the status of People´s Deputies of Ukraine. "Excessive privileges which have created a yawning gap between the people and their representatives should be eliminated once and for all," he stressed.
V.Lytvyn called for determining legal principles obligatory during the implementation of laws to make application of laws more understandable, consolidate the principles of law supremacy, and support human and civil rights and liberties.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that too many proscriptive and binding norms threaten the legal system, while their share in the legal environment should not exceed five per cent.
"It is necessary to hold special parliamentary hearings to draft and adopt a theoretically grounded and practicable concept of legislation development of Ukraine. It will help develop a law-making plan for ten years. Such hearings are also encouraged by the fact that 4772 bills have been registered at the Verkhovna Rada," he summed up.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, adjourned the Grand Assembly of the Parliament dedicated to the 20th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of Ukraine, and announced a recess in the plenary meeting.