Any constitutional amendments should be agreed with people, says president

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has said that any constitutional amendments should be made openly and transparently, and they should certainly be drafted, adopted and agreed with people, according to a presidential article published in the Den (Day) newspaper.

"These are fundamental principles of democracy, which should always be followed," he said.

The head of state said that a new rational constitution, based on these principles, would help Ukraine effectively tackle future economic challenges. Yushchenko said that the main law should meet European standards. "Only the main law of Ukraine should foresee grounds to restrict the freedom of political activity," he added.

He said that violence could not serve as a means of defending political interests, and added that the activity of political parties should be based on a free competition and respect for democratic values. "The right to opposition activities should be recognized in Ukraine," Yushchenko said.

He noted that the constitution should foresee that the country's leaders should be accountable to people through direct elections, the Verkhovna Rada should have two chambers, and that deputy immunity should be cancelled.

The Ukrainian Justice Ministry reported that the Venice Commission had given positive reviews of the presidential draft of constitutional amendments, which was submitted for consideration by the Ukrainian parliament on March 31, 2009.

UKRINFORM