16/01/2008 Monitoring
“Implementing reforms in Ukraine is a complex process and our talks confirmed this. This makes it crucial for all Ukrainian politicians to make use of the constructive climate which prevailed in the wake of the parliamentary elections in order to accelerate the reform process”, said the rapporteurs for the Monitoring Committee, Hanne Severinsen (Denmark, ALDE) and Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD), at the end of their visit to Kyiv, which formed part of PACE’s monitoring of Ukraine’s obligations and commitments.
Ms Severinsen and Ms Wohlwend reiterated that the elections of 30 September 2007 were fairly run. They felt, nonetheless, that election legislation and the electoral system should be changed to reflect regional differences and contribute to the election of a more representative parliament.
“There is reason for hope, as Ukraine has successfully negotiated its third political transition and politicians are increasingly convinced of the importance of democratic principles”, they added. However, there was a need to restore confidence in Ukraine's institutions straight away.
“Ukraine has to make changes to its Constitution, and we welcome the move by the President of Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko, to set up a Constitutional Council including representatives of the different political parties, think tanks and civil society. Ukraine does not necessarily need a new Constitution, but the interaction between the various institutions of the state and branches of power must be clarified”, they said.
Lastly, on the matter of which reforms should be given priority, the rapporteurs felt that the Ukrainian authorities should give precedence to reforming the judicial and penal system and the state prosecutor's office and to setting up a public broadcasting system.