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30 March 2023, 09:20
The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU took part
in the panel discussion ‘Development of inter-party cooperation to
strengthen democratic stability’ of the Summit for Democracy 2023, which
took place in Washington.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze thanked the countries of the free world that chose the side of good, protecting Ukraine: ‘For the first time in history, we feel that we are not alone. But our struggle is not over yet’. The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s integration into the EU reminded that the war started not a year, but eight years ago. In her opinion, the international community has made several mistakes and missed many alarms that required response to avert this brutal and barbaric full-scale war.
At the same time, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that Ukraine has united during the full-scale war. Members of the Parliament also demonstrated their unity. ‘When the Russian troops were standing around Kyiv, we were quite a serious target for the enemy, having gathered all in one building. But we were happy to do it. We all gathered as a constitutional majority of the Parliament. It was surprising to many that we did not run away, did not look for a safer place for ourselves and our families. We were there to serve our country. We were happy to see each other and, despite our fierce disputes, make decisions that had no political basis, but were aimed at protecting our people’, said the Chair of the Committee. According to her, the voting of the Parliament was based on consensus: ‘We have seen this unity in the face of an existential threat, when the country’s existence was jeopardised. We worked in a completely unique atmosphere’.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasised that the Parliament managed to maintain unity in the most difficult time: ‘To protect our independence, our right to choose our path after the victory, which we hope we will achieve with your help. And here, of course, we need even more weapons, even more sanctions pressure on Russia, prosecution of those guilty of war crimes, as well as financial and humanitarian aid. And we all talk about it in unison. As well as about our European and Euro-Atlantic integration’.
However, according to the Chair of the Committee, there are discussions and different approaches to the democratic system during martial law. ‘Of course, martial law limits publicity, the active participation of all stakeholders in political life, as well as access to information. Unfortunately, for security reasons, the Parliament neither informs about plenary sessions in advance, nor invites journalists or makes live broadcasts. We can inform the society about the decisions only after we leave the Parliament building. Thus, voters sometimes lack information about activities of the Parliament. And the Parliament may be blamed for the Government's decisions. The main reason for it is that the Parliament is not represented publicly to the level to which it should be represented’, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said.
She also emphasised that Ukraine now has a unique situation when the majority forms a coalition by itself. ‘In view of lacking clearly prescribed rules of interaction between the majority and the minority, lacking political traditions and political culture, which requires compliance with procedures and the involvement of the opposition, additional temptations are created, which are very risky’, the Chair said. She is convinced that in any parliament the majority should take a responsible approach to the dialogue with the opposition to maintain the system of checks and balances. ‘I was in the previous convocation of the Parliament and in the Government. I was on both sides. Therefore, I am convinced that it is the majority's responsibility to honestly approach the dialogue with the opposition and it should be ready for it’, said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
‘All political forces in Ukraine are united in European and Euro-Atlantic integration’, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze thanked the countries of the free world that chose the side of good, protecting Ukraine: ‘For the first time in history, we feel that we are not alone. But our struggle is not over yet’. The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s integration into the EU reminded that the war started not a year, but eight years ago. In her opinion, the international community has made several mistakes and missed many alarms that required response to avert this brutal and barbaric full-scale war.
At the same time, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that Ukraine has united during the full-scale war. Members of the Parliament also demonstrated their unity. ‘When the Russian troops were standing around Kyiv, we were quite a serious target for the enemy, having gathered all in one building. But we were happy to do it. We all gathered as a constitutional majority of the Parliament. It was surprising to many that we did not run away, did not look for a safer place for ourselves and our families. We were there to serve our country. We were happy to see each other and, despite our fierce disputes, make decisions that had no political basis, but were aimed at protecting our people’, said the Chair of the Committee. According to her, the voting of the Parliament was based on consensus: ‘We have seen this unity in the face of an existential threat, when the country’s existence was jeopardised. We worked in a completely unique atmosphere’.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasised that the Parliament managed to maintain unity in the most difficult time: ‘To protect our independence, our right to choose our path after the victory, which we hope we will achieve with your help. And here, of course, we need even more weapons, even more sanctions pressure on Russia, prosecution of those guilty of war crimes, as well as financial and humanitarian aid. And we all talk about it in unison. As well as about our European and Euro-Atlantic integration’.
However, according to the Chair of the Committee, there are discussions and different approaches to the democratic system during martial law. ‘Of course, martial law limits publicity, the active participation of all stakeholders in political life, as well as access to information. Unfortunately, for security reasons, the Parliament neither informs about plenary sessions in advance, nor invites journalists or makes live broadcasts. We can inform the society about the decisions only after we leave the Parliament building. Thus, voters sometimes lack information about activities of the Parliament. And the Parliament may be blamed for the Government's decisions. The main reason for it is that the Parliament is not represented publicly to the level to which it should be represented’, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said.
She also emphasised that Ukraine now has a unique situation when the majority forms a coalition by itself. ‘In view of lacking clearly prescribed rules of interaction between the majority and the minority, lacking political traditions and political culture, which requires compliance with procedures and the involvement of the opposition, additional temptations are created, which are very risky’, the Chair said. She is convinced that in any parliament the majority should take a responsible approach to the dialogue with the opposition to maintain the system of checks and balances. ‘I was in the previous convocation of the Parliament and in the Government. I was on both sides. Therefore, I am convinced that it is the majority's responsibility to honestly approach the dialogue with the opposition and it should be ready for it’, said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.