93. Tell your classmates about Kyiv.

94. Read the text and translate it.

UKRAINE AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Ukraine joined the Council of Europe on the 9th of November 1995, taking the organization membership to 38.

Three conditions for joining the Council of Europe were fulfilled:¹ (1) legislation² to safeguard³ national minorities⁴; (2) free elections; (3) new post Soviet constitution.

Ukraine's policies towards national minorities were regarded® as some of the most progressive. Parliamentary and presidential elections were held in 1994 and were considered⁵to be fair⁷ and free by the Council of Europe. As for Constitution at that time, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Hennadii Udovenko said, "The Constitution we now use contains 140 amendments⁸. There is nothing left from the former constitution". Besides, the adoption of the constitutional agreement between Parliament and the President has further removed⁹ the obstacles¹⁰ from Ukraine's admittance to the Council of Europe.

The new Constitution of Ukraine was adopted at the Fifth Session of the Supreme Rada on June 28, 1996.

95. a) Read the word-combinations and sentences with their translation.

b) Cover the left side of the page and translate into English.

Lesson 12

1  to join the Council of Europe

2  the conditions for joining

3  national minority

4  free elections

5  the new Constitution