Bill on defense procurement to be submitted to parliament in April - Zavitnevych

According to a statement posted on the committee's website, the committee has prepared the draft law on defense procurement for consideration at second reading.

"It is in the absolute priority of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the government, and the leadership of the state," Zavitnevych said.

According to him, the bill will be an important step in further reforming Ukraine's security and defense sector.

"Declassifying a significant part of the state defense order, creating a competitive and transparent environment in the arms and military hardware market is critical to improving our country's defense capability at a time when it needs security and a buildup of military strength. That is why this bill is particularly important. The committee is confident that the draft law on defense procurement will be brought to the session hall in April 2020 as soon as the parliamentary procedure will allow it to move from the consideration of land reform to the next issues on the agenda," Zavitnevych said.

In addition, he said, the committee is working on a draft law on intelligence aimed at improving the legal and organizational foundations of intelligence, the activities of the intelligence agencies of Ukraine and other entities of the intelligence community, improving the effectiveness of their interaction, as well as ensuring the social and legal protection of employees of intelligence agencies and persons involved in confidential cooperation with these authorities. It should replace the current law of Ukraine "On Intelligence Agencies of Ukraine."

Zavitnevych noted that the committee expects the Ukrainian president to submit a draft law on the Security Service of Ukraine, elaborated by a joint working group of the committee and the Office of the President of Ukraine, for further elaboration by the committee.

"The committee also continues to work out legislative initiatives on the new statutes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the introduction of amendments to the law of Ukraine 'On Mine Action in Ukraine,' the introduction of amendments to the law of Ukraine 'On State Secrets,' territorial defense, military police, the social protection of military and their families, etc.," Zavitnevych said.

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