Ukraine's Parliament accepts draft 2007 national budget for consideration

On Thursday, September 21, the Verkhovna Rada accepted the draft 2007 national budget for consideration, Cabinet's press office reported.

The Parliament's resolution to this effect was basically supported by coalitional majority deputies. The resolution collected 249 yeas (186 Regions Party deputies, ten BYuT faction members, two Our Ukraine faction deputies, 30 Socialists, 21 Communists).

Drawing the line under the bill's debating, Speaker Oleksandr Moroz noted that despite all its flaws and demerits the Government submitted the draft budget to the Parliament within the prescribed term.

The new Government, he said, had just a month at its disposal to polish the document.

As the Verkhovna Rada Chairman told the lawmakers, the resolution entrusts him with forming a working group in charge of polishing the draft budget for its first reading.

The group will be composed of representatives of all deputy factions, VR Committees, as well as Government representatives.

As Oleksandr Moroz reminded, every committee and every faction must submit their remarks with regard to the budget bill by October 1.