09 April 2014, 16:16
Ukraine experiences significant social changes. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi at the opening ceremony of the programme “RADA: responsibility, accountability and democratic parliamentary representation”, initiated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Ruslan Koshulynskyi appreciated extremely efficient former cooperation of the Parliament with this institution initiated in 1993.
In his words, “those social changes happening now in Ukraine have clearly shown how necessary this cooperation is”.
The Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament expressed belief that “Ukrainian society has to change”, and the Ukrainian authorities, particularly the legislative ones, have to become more open.
“Efficient public control over work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, closer ties between voters and deputies, application of those latest technologies for cooperation when citizens’ opinions will be implemented in legislative initiatives of the Parliament’s representatives and in their actions – this is what we need to strive for and reach”, stressed Ruslan Koshulynskyi, and added that significant assistance “can be obtained considering support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in this direction.”
Moreover, Ruslan Koshulynskyi highly appreciated the fact that the United States Agency for International Development instructed Ukrainian organization with implementing the cooperation programme. “We highly appreciate that the United States Agency instructed Ukrainian organization and Ukrainian experts with implementing the cooperation programme, which proves ability of Ukrainian experts to implement those ideas, thoughts and practices our partners have”. He stressed that “the Revolution of Dignity” in Ukraine has shown ability and readiness of Ukrainian society to build democratic future.
In his turn, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt claimed Ukraine is going through renaissance of democracy. According to him, the government shall be responsible to those people who trusted it with their choice, “their expectations”.
“Today the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is a centre for democratic life in Ukraine, as it should be. Our joint aim and the aim of this project is to further develop activity of Ukrainian Parliament so that it could become a powerful, independent and a truly democratic institution people on the Maidan and millions of Ukrainian want to see,” claimed the American diplomat.
“Surely, we are facing very difficult and responsible tasks, including such an ambitious aim as amendments to the Constitution. It is very important that this process is transparent and supported by majority of Ukrainian citizens,” said the Chair of the diplomatic department in Ukraine, and stressed “those changes and transformations happening in Ukraine are Ukrainians own business”.
Information:
The programme was founded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been providing the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with technical assistance since 1993.
At the opening ceremony of the cooperation programme, American Party was represented by Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt and Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Paige Alexander.
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