The Ukrainian Weekly 1995
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INSIDE: "1995: THE YEAR IN REVIEW" - beginning on page 3. A ME Li T -j-y ****** S | :>*v 9 •/-•/<?: Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIII No. 53 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1995 75 cents Independent for four years plus, Supreme Council adjourns for holidays; Ukraine still lacks Constitution Chairman Moroz cites intensity of session by Marta Kolomayets noted Mr. Moroz, explaining that 56 bills by Marta Kolomayets the ad hoc subcommittee may be ready Kyiv Press Bureau covering such matters as taxation policy Kyiv Press Bureau to submit its consolidated version in and tax reform were adopted in the first January 1996. (At press time, the sub KYIV - The fourth session of the cur reading during the fall months and should KYIV - Although Ukraine has been committee had agreed on 35 of the 159 rent Supreme Council adjourned on be passed in the fifth session. Bills regulat an independent country for more than articles in the Constitution.) December 22, and lawmakers dispersed for ing minimum wage and social security for four years now, to this day it is with If approved by this full Constitutional a Christmas holiday recess before tackling war veterans are also to be examined when out a new Constitution. Committee, the draft document will be such issues as the 1996 state budget and the Parliament reconvenes. The current law of the land is a presented to the Supreme Council, adoption of the Ukrainian Constitution. But Mr. Moroz's words were not all mixed bag of legal documents, includ which then must approve the document "Though this session was short in dura praise, as he noted that "the work of the ing the Constitutional Accord signed by two-thirds majority, before as is tion, it was no less intensive than preceding Parliament is far from ideal." Discipline is by the Ukrainian president and the expected, President Leonid Kuchma sessions," said Parliament Chairman still lacking, there are cases of violations of Parliament this past June, remnants of calls a national referendum on its accep Oleksander Moroz, delivering closing parliamentary ethics and steady absen the Constitution of the Ukrainian tance. remarks. teeism among some deputies, he explained. SSR, which was adopted in 1978, According to Constitutional "As regards the number and complex In his closing speech, Mr. Moroz also presidential decrees, parliamentary Committee member Oleksander ity of bills reviewed, they included key said that more than 30 international resolutions, ministerial guidelines and Yemets, a deputy from the Reforms social and economic issues. The fourth agreements, treaties and conventions are international documents, such as the faction, there are actually four possible session had its share of weighty matters. scheduled to be reviewed in the upcom ing fifth session, and he stressed the United Nations Universal Charter of ways the new law may be enacted: This does credit to the Supreme Council, importance of bringing Ukraine's legis Human Rights. approval by two-thirds majority in the and is evidence of its heightened profes lation into line with demands set forth by Of all the former 15 Soviet Supreme Council, approval by a sim sionalism, better organization of the leg the Council of Europe. republics, Ukraine remains the only ple majority in the Supreme Council islative process in parliamentary com one without a new Constitution, with with subsequent ratification through a mittees, and its increased cooperation Mr. Moroz emphasized that the fifth out the basic laws and principles of an national referendum, approval through with the government," noted Mr. Moroz, session should adopt the 1996 state bud get and work diligently to advance the independent state. a national referendum on the principal summing up three months of work. pace of adopting a new Constitution. And although most politicians agree provisions, or ratification through a Among this Parliament's most impor that il is impossible to put off the national referendum initiated by the tant achievements was accession to the adoption of a new Constitution, president of Ukraine. Council of Europe, said the parliamentary according to representatives from the Former President Leonid Kravchuk, leader, explaining that "this is recognition Two fraternal groups spectrum of political forces in today's who is now a people's deputy, does by the European community of our Parliament, the day that a new democ not think the Ukrainian Parliament nation's domestic and foreign policies, our ratic Constitution comes into force in will be able to pass the Constitution in democratic course, aimed at developing begin merger talks Ukraine is still a long way off. When its current form, nor does he agree good-neighborly relations with all coun JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A prelimi the Constitution is finally passed, it with the above-mentioned mechanisms tries — in the East, as well as in the West." nary meeting between representatives of will be the 11th Constitution adopted for adopting the document. Mr. In the course of 58 plenary meetings the Ukrainian National Association and in Ukraine by either national or Kravchuk does not see any possibility during the fourth session of this the Ukrainian National Aid Association Communist powers since April 1918. for this Parliament to come to a con Parliament, more than 220 issues were of America was held here on Saturday, Despite the fact that a 40-member sensus and has suggested that a examined, 64 laws were adopted and 17 December 16, to discuss negotiations Constitutional Committee was formed Constitutional Assembly be formed to bills were endorsed in the first reading, toward a merger between the two frater more than a year ago, in November adopt a new Ukrainian Constitution. said Mr. Moroz. For the fifth session, currently sched nal organizations. 1994, it is only recently that a 10- The "Constitutional Agreement uled to run from January 16 through July The UNA General Assembly voted member ad hoc subcommittee of this between the Supreme Rada and the 16, 1996, 237 issues have been selected during its special meeting on November larger body escaped to a secluded for President of Ukraine on the Basic for review out of 370 proposed for exam 18-19 to approve negotiations with the mer Communist Party resort in the Principles of the Organization and ination. UNAAA as well as the Ukrainian woods, miles outside of Kyiv, to work Operation of State Power and Local on incorporating ideas, suggestions Headway was made in striving for Fraternal Association. Self-Government in Ukraine until a New The General Assembly also approved a and changes proposed by deputies, Ukrainian Constitution is Adopted," cooperation between the legislative and government officials and legal experts executive powers, noted the Parliament special committee to negotiate the merger known as the constitutional accord, was on behalf of the UNA. Its members are into the rough draft of the passed on June 8 of this year and is chairman, adding that the first steps Constitution. toward this goal were taken in the spring President Ulana Diachuk, Secretary meant to be valid for one year only. Martha Lysko, Treasurer Alexander The working document itself is when a constitutional accord was signed Thus the Ukrainian Parliament is pres Blahitka and Walter Sochan, honorary lengthy and verbose; it numbers 38 between the president and Parliament. sured to adopt a new Constitution by member of the General Assembly and pages, is divided into 12 sections and The current session showed concerted June of 1996. The Council of Europe long-time supreme secretary of the UNA. contains 159 articles. It is definitely efforts by both branches of government to requires that member-countries adopt a Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky is the not an easy read for the average work together, as the idea of "Government new democratic Constitution within one committee's legal adviser. Ukrainian citizen. By the time it goes year of accession to the council. In Day," a session during which lawmakers This committee met with three represen through its final edit, no one is quite Ukraine's case this is November 1996. can question and quiz ministers, was intro duced in Parliament. Three such sessions tatives of the Ukrainian National Aid sure what the law of the land will look However, all the forces in the cur like. were held during the fall, and Mr. Moroz Association: President Wolodymyr Mazur, rent Parliament, which is known in the Vice-President for Canada Wolodymyr Although the working group - explained that they are scheduled to take new Constitution as the National Okipniuk and Secretary-Treasurer Odarka which includes four presidential repre place once a month in the hew year. Assembly of Ukraine, object to vari J. Roberts. Two other members of the sentatives, four representatives from The practice of holding joint meetings ous principles in the new draft. UNAAA's negotiating team, Vice- Parliament and two representatives of of the presidiums of the Parliament and Most forces, ranging from Socialist President Peter Paluch and Lev Futala, the legal system - does not have a set- the government also began in 1995, as leader and Parliament Chairman honorary member, were unable to attend. in-stone deadline to present the draft deputies and government officials tried Oleksander Moroz to Reforms faction The first meeting of the two fratemals' Constitution for examination to the to work together to provide better eco leader Serhiy Sobolev, object to the representatives focused on ways to effect a full Constitutional Committee, nomic and social conditions for the extent of powers given to the president merger, requirements of state insurance Presidential Chief of Staff Dmytro country's 52 million citizens. departments and the logistics of a merger. Tabachnyk told reporters recently that (Continued on page 21) Social and economic issues will be at the top of the Parliament's agenda in 1996, Their next meeting will take place in 1996.