13 February 2014, 12:21
Contrary to the general opinion of representatives of the rest of parliamentary factions, in particular, opposition and non-affiliated people’s deputies that was expressed during the extraordinary meeting of the Conciliatory Council of February 12, this year, deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda Andrii Mokhnyk accused the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of “reluctance to settle the deep socio-political crisis in the state.” Resting upon the minutes of discussion during the abovementioned Conciliatory Council and in view of unfounded political assumptions of the representative of the All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda, the Press Service of the Verkhovna Rada additionally explains the following.
The extraordinary meeting of the Conciliatory Council, involving faction representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, was held under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak on February 12. Following its results, authorized representatives of all factions as well as non-affiliated deputies failed to reach consensus on convening the extraordinary meeting of the Parliament at the demand of three opposition factions of the Parliament.
Actual absence of the subject for consideration during such a meeting (which contradicts the requirements of the Rules of Procedure) was the ground for rejecting the opposing initiative by the participants of the Conciliatory Council. Thus, as yet no bill on return to the Constitution of Ukraine in the version of 2004 has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. Instead, representatives of opposition factions i.e., the All-Ukrainian Union Batkivshchyna, the political party of UDAR, as well as authorized representatives of the faction of the Party of Regions, the Communist Party and inter-faction deputies insisted on consideration of constitutional changes exclusively within the procedures regulated by section XIII of the Constitution of Ukraine and chapter 26 of section V of the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In regard to consideration of the bills on amnesty, without any preconditions, and formation of the Government, which the opposition insisted to include into the agenda of the extraordinary session, these issues were not formally adjusted. Particularly, they were not considered by the specialized committees.
Under such conditions in view of reaching a compromise, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada suggested hold an additional meeting on Friday, February 14 with participation of representatives of faction leaders in order to discuss the schedule of meetings for the next week. During this meeting, Volodymyr Rybak believes, it will be possible to more substantially discuss the issues suggested by the opposition factions for the extraordinary meeting. The next stage could be further consideration of the issues proposed by opposition during the next Conciliatory Council of the Parliament in full composition the next Monday.
Leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine once again calls on the people’s deputies-representatives of political forces to realize their responsibility to the Ukrainian people for political settlement of socio-political crisis in the country by peaceful, legal means and restoration of public order and stability in the society. The country has come to the moment of truth, which demands all political forces to withdraw the strategy of delivering ultimatums in favor of active search for compromises for Ukraine’s good fortune and harmony in society.