President Poroshenko signs language law

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as a State Language."

The signing ceremony, which was streamed live on President’s Facebook, was held in presence of Verkhovna Rada Chairperson Andriy Parubiy and the representatives of parliament and the public.

"Today, on May 15, I as President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko have high honor and a unique opportunity to sign the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as a State Language." I am signing a carefully balanced language law," Poroshenko said.

He emphasized that signing of this law "is one of the most important acts for the formation of Ukrainian statehood" since the language is the platform and foundation on which the state is being built.

"I emphasize that this law does not affect the languages of national minorities living in Ukraine," Poroshenko said.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as a State Language" on April 25. A total of 278 lawmakers voted for the adoption of the law. However, the members the Opposition Bloc registered the draft resolutions on the abolition of the language law.

On May 14, the Parliament rejected those draft resolutions, which had been blocking the signing of the law, and Verkhovna Rada Chairperson Andriy Parubiy immediately signed the law.

The same day, the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as a State Language" was sent to the President for a signature.

ol