Yushchenko makes official statement on Russia's recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence

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Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who was planning to deliver his extraordinary address to the parliament on September 2, the opening of the Verkhovna Rada's third session, has changed his mind.

Presidential secretary Iryna Vannykova said that the head of state would speak in the Verkhovna Rada after the latter enters a normal regime of work.

She pointed to the president's position that September 2 in the parliament would test the democratic coalition's ability to work. Yushchenko expressed confidence that the parliament should give a clear assessment of recent developments in Georgia, while the coalition should implement terms of the coalition agreement, Vannykova said.

As UKRINFORM reported, five parliamentary factions drafted six bills on the Georgian question. The oppositional Regions Party in its bill suggested recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia that is absolutely unacceptable for the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko and the Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Bloc.

The Verkhovna Rada of the sixth convocation opened its third session early on September 2. A total of 446 MPs have been registered in the parliament's hall.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, government members, members of the Central Electoral Commission, Prosecutor General Oleksandr Medvedko, as well as other officials and guests are attending the meeting.

UKRINFORM