06 June 2014, 15:59
PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014.
Having opened morning plenary session, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that the Government Question Hour is being held weekly on Friday. Representatives of deputy factions made the proposal to grant a hearing to the report of the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the use of funds for financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Turchynov noted that this is the 100th day of activity of a new Cabinet of Ministers. He granted the floor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arsenii Yatseniuk. “Summarizing these one hundred days our country has lived over, I would like to characterize them with the only phrase – we have been able to withstand. We have survived as Ukrainian country, as Ukrainian people,” the Prime Minister said.
According to him, these days Ukraine has faced the most dramatic challenges throughout the whole history of independence. “For the first time over the history of Ukraine’s independence we have faced blatant aggression of the Russian military. There have never been wars on the territory of Ukraine. Russia has unleashed this war. Russia had annexed the Ukrainian territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” he said.
The Prime Minister reminded that 100 days ago the Government Action Plan was approved, as well as the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. “The budget was plundered and state companies were bankrupts, however it was difficult to predict than what enormous problems the country will face,” stressed the Chairman of the Government.
A.Yatseniuk claimed that the former President has reaved the country and left it. The Ukrainian Parliament announced early presidential elections. Under conditions when almost 40 thousand militants of the Armed Forces of Russia have been deployed and still remain in close proximity to Ukraine’s borders, “when Russia has sent thousands of terrorists to the territory of Ukraine, when it finances terrorist activity and when every effort was made to disrupt the presidential elections,” Ukrainian people demonstrated that they are wise. That is why Ukraine has elected the Head of the state in the first round, and we have held fair and transparent elections.
He claimed that “the President, the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers will act as one.” He said that millions of Ukraine’s citizens expect for real changes. These changes are also spread throughout unity, common tasks and political responsibility. Ukrainians are waiting for political commitment to those who were standing on Maidan, and to those thousands of our guys, who are now fighting with arms in their hands.
Ukraine will be free from terrorists and we will free Donetsk and Luhansk from those who interfere in their future. Banditry and terrorism that are sponsored by Russia will be destroyed,” said Arsenii Yatseniuk.
The people’s deputies applauded the speech of Arsenii Yatseniuk.
Further no, the Prime Minister dwelled on the economic situation in the country. “We managed to avoid the terrible word of “default” in the economic sector. All social allowances, pensions, salaries and social standards, adopted in the applicable law “On the State Budget”, are being paid,” he informed.
According to him, during this period we have received financial assistance on the part of our western partners. We have resumed cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the governments of the USA, Canada, Japan and the EU regarding provision of macro financial assistance.
A.Yatseniuk informed that the number of state officials has been reduced by 25 thousands.
The Prime Minister informed also about several positive steps made by the government.
A.Yatseniuk has separately mentioned energy independence, or to be more specific – “dependence” of our country. He reminded that three month ago the Government received empty gas storages. Overall amount of gas was approximately 5 billion cubic meters, which is buffer gas that cannot be pumped out. “During the last two months Ukrainian gas storage facilities have accumulated over 12 billion cubic meters. I consider we shall finish this month with the number exceeding 13 billion cubic meters,” the Prime Minister said. “It isn’t enough to get through the winter time, but it is sufficient to warm Ukrainian people in winter. Yet, this volume cannot fully ensure supplies of natural gas and satisfy our needs, but 500 million cubic meters of gas, the amount we can receive from Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on a monthly basis, is the first step towards energy independence,” he noted
Regarding the economic section, the EU has opened on a unilateral basis their sales markets for over 12 commodity positions of Ukraine’s origin, in particular for agro-industrial and industrial commodities. “Such one-way opening of markets by the European Union provides additional incomes for Ukrainian business worth EUR 500 million by November 1 of the current year,” he said, adding that the economic section of the Association Agreement should be inked as soon as possible. Our course towards Europe is unchangeable. It is a political, economic, judicial, democratic perspective. Taking into account our values, Ukraine is a European state. Hence, signing the Agreement is the first step capable to ensure Ukraine’s EU membership in the future,” he stressed.
A.Yatseniuk expressed conviction that Ukraine deserves to become the EU member and “our advancement towards our European future is invariable, resolute and decisive.”
Further on, the Prime Minister reported on the use of funds for financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Commenting on further steps to be taken, A.Yatseniuk noted that “it will
be complicated. Not less complicated that it is at present. We should jointly
respond to each challenge.” “We should search for political, economic and
safety responses. Ukraine
should complete the process of constitutional changes. Concentration of power
in the hands of one person or institution leads to dictatorship. That is why we
address the Parliament to complete the process of constitutional changes that
would stipulate three elements – decentralization of authority, amendments to
the Budgetary and Tax Code, as well as providing the regions with economic
stimuli in order to attract investment to increase the number of workplaces,”
he noted.
A.Yatseniuk felt sorry that the bill adopted by the Parliament is different from the bill suggested by the government on lustration of the judicial system.
The Prime-Minister called fighting corruption a common task for all branches of power. Within the framework of our reform on fighting corruption number one task is National Anti-corruption Bureau, number two – amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Militia”, number three – a new version of the Law of Ukraine “On the Prosecutor’s Office”, and number four – political responsibility of all political forces that have suggested their candidates for the government, central and local authorities”, he claimed.
A.Yatseniuk then informed about further steps in the economy. He claimed that thanks to received funds from our financial structures it was possible to not only avoid default, but it was also possible to hold back the fall of national currency. As of now the problem lies in restricting the credit resource for the Ukrainian economy – the banking system does not have enough funds for crediting. In his words, since the beginning of this year, almost 20% of deposits have been lost.
“In general, nearly UAH 70 billion of these deposits were retrieved. And this presents impossibility for crediting”, he stressed.
The Prime-Minister said a few words about some positive changes. One of this is that for the last ten days people have began returning funds into the banking system, the growth is not considerable – 0,4%.
The Chair of the Government emphasized the necessity to change the system of state management in the country and adapt it to the European standards.
A.Yatseniuk reported on the received financial and technical assistance from European partners. In his words, a support group for Ukraine in the EU was created. Every ministry will have expert consultants and analysts who, together with a specially appointed person, particularly, a minister in each ministry on European integration, will be changing quality and system of management in state authorities.
Summing up, the Prime-Minister stressed “this government, this country face such tasks.” “Our mutual goal is to preserve the country, give Ukrainians confidence in their future, and protect them. This means helping those families that lost their supporter. This means helping those families whose father fought for Ukraine as a hero and died. This means helping each Ukrainian family feel confidence in Ukrainian future, feel our mutual strength and believe that we have a great future, that we as Ukrainian people will overcome all obstacles, all those dramatic pages of Ukrainian history. This is how the nation forms, this is how the state forms: with blood, sweat, will, faith, confidence, and unity. This is our formula for success and Ukraine will be a successful country”, claimed A.Yatseniuk.
The Prime-Minister answered people’s deputies questions.
A.Yatseniuk stressed that today the situation in Donetsk Oblast is “extremely critical”. Speaking about industrial enterprises present there, he informed that the government instructed Ukrainian Railways to purchase everything it can from enterprises of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
The Prime-Minister also answered other questions concerning specific data on funding the Armed Forces, energy balance, payment of social benefits, some economic issues, etc.
Then the Government Question Hour ended.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that during the Government Question Hour the law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re improvement of defence and mobilization issues during the mobilization (Reg. No. 4785) was mentioned.
He reminded that this law was adopted, however, clause 11 of this law duplicates already adopted norms, and questions the issue on transparency of procurements in general.
Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that in connection with presence of this clause, the government is preparing a suggestion on vetoing this law.
The Chairman suggested exclude clause 11 from this law.
People’s deputies upheld this suggestion with 253 votes.
MPs considered four bills under Reg. No. 2203, 2203-1, 3356, 3356-2.
Following the results of the voting, none of the bills received enough votes.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi informed about resignation of people’s deputies O.Paraskiv and S.Braika from the Party of Regions faction.
Ruslan Koshulynskyi announced deputies’ claims.
People’s deputies made their statements, claims and suggestions.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
A solemn meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dedicated to taking an oath by newly elected president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2014.