23 July 2014, 16:17
THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE CONTINUED ITS PLENARY WORK ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014.
Having opened morning plenary session, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed that yesterday the President signed the law on amendments to the Rules of Procedure. The law will be published in the “Holos Ukrainy”(“Voice of Ukraine”) newspaper tomorrow in the morning, and will come into force. “I will perform the historical mission – announce liquidation of the faction of communists,” he said.
In regard to withdrawal of the people’s deputies from the session hall, Oleksandr Turchynov noted that yesterday he met with the delegation from opposition and asked the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat to analyze provisions of the Rules of Procedure. Chair of the Parliament noted that there are several problematic issues in the Rules of Procedure, particularly, contradiction of norms of articles 51 and 53. In connection with this, Chair of the Parliament has entrusted the Committee on the Rules of Procedure to hold a meeting and provide its opinion on the abovementioned issue.
Parliamentarians took the floor with announcements, statements and proposals
During the first speech of the people’s deputy M.Rudkovskyi, there began crowding in the session hall – the people’s deputies from the coalition faction tried to make P.Symoneko leave the session hall.
The Presiding asked parliamentarians to calm down, take their workplaces, and continue working.
The meeting continued in several minutes.
During the speeches, the people’s deputy M.Tomenko claimed that “present developments once again testify to the fact that current composition of the Verkhovna Rada, that is at least by one third composed of people that serve Russia and Putin and uphold secessionist ideas, does not have the right to exist.”
The people’s deputy S.Soboliev outlined the standing of “Batkivshchyna” faction that “addresses the President of Ukraine with an urgent proposal: to refer the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement to the Parliament for ratification.”
The people’s deputy H.Nemyria informed that yesterday the Committee on European integration unanimously, with the exception of one representative of the Communist party, upheld the draft resolution on address to the President of Ukraine with a demand to urgently, i.e. not later than August 12, refer the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification. According to him, “this will allow us to ratify the Agreement and stop talking about the alleged technical, political or any other arguments against ratification.”
Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada R.Kniazevych expressed surprise in connection with “the just mentioned standing of one of the factions in regard to the President of Ukraine demanding to immediately ratify the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.”
R.Kniazevych noted that in view of the inter-state procedures, the President has officially addressed the Government to urgently refer the package of necessary documents, that were adjusted with the EU, so that he could officially and in line with the Constitution refer it to the Parliament for further ratification. However, according to him, the President of Ukraine has not yet received such a package from the Government.
Representative of the President claimed that “it is improper to shift responsibility on the President.”
After the speeches, the people’s deputies went down to consideration of agenda items
The draft law on amendments to article 4 of the Law “On Rehabilitation of the Disabled in Ukraine” re providing those suffered in the course of anti-terrorist operation with medical, technical and other means of rehabilitation (Reg. No. 4331a) was included into the agenda.
Reporting on the bill, Chair of the Committee on Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Valerii Sushkevych, addressed parliamentarians with a request to adopt this document.
With consideration of the proposal that the law shall be applied not only to the military but as well to the civilians, the bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 277 votes.
At the demand of two factions, the Presiding announced a break.
After the break, Oleksandr Turchynov granted the floor to the representative of one of the factions that demanded a break – the people’s deputy N.Shurych. He informed that during the break the situation in the session hall was discussed. According to him, the decision was taken that all the actions in the session hall shall be performed exclusively in line with the Law “On the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine”
N.Shufrych informed also that they discussed the issue of how to act in the condition of confrontation that takes place in Donbas.
The people’s deputies scrutinized the draft resolution on establishment of Interim Inquiry Commission on verifying compliance with legislation in the sphere of state regulation of natural monopolies and adjacent markets regarding power, gas, heat and water supply (Reg. No. 4058a). The draft resolution was presented by the people’s deputy S.Soboliev.
S.Soboliev justified creating the Interim Inquiry Commission by the necessity to verify compliance with legislation in the sphere of state regulation of natural monopolies and adjacent markets regarding power, gas, heat and water supply.
MPs upheld the draft resolution with 150 votes.
People's deputies considered several bills in the first reading.
Rostyslav Pavlenko reported on the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re improving the fight against terrorism (Reg. No. 4912). Chair of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee Viktor Chumak informed about the Committee's decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.
As a result of the voting, the bill did not receive enough votes (182 in favour). The decision regarding this bill will be adopted at the next plenary meeting.
During the discussion, people's deputies generally upheld this bill.
People's deputy Andrii Senchenko informed about the bill on amendments to article 19 of the Code of Administrative Legal Proceedings of Ukraine (re appeal of decisions of local self-government authorities).
Chairperson of the subcommittee on civil, economic and administrative proceedings of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on the Rule of Law and Justice claimed the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.
Having discussed the bill, people's deputies suggested adopting the decision at the next plenary meeting.
The bill was put to signal voting (155 in favour).
MPs also considered and discussed the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re engaging local communities and NGO in resolving the issues on optimization, reorganization or liquidation of a network of national and communal health care establishments) under Reg. No. 2967.
Reporting on the bill, people's deputy Andrii Pavlovskyi claimed "the country is tired of the so-called Yanukovych-Bohatyriova medical reforms". He suggested "putting an end to this lawlessness and making it impossible in the future".
The bill also suggests amending the Criminal Code.
Chair of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Andrii Kozhemiakin informed about the Committee's decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.
During the discussion, people's deputies upheld the bill. The decision regarding this bill will be adopted at the next plenary meeting.
The Chair adjourned the plenary meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada will be held on Thursday, July 24.