President: Important is not date, but principles of local elections

"As for the date, I would like to say that the elections, of course, must be held within the terms, determined by the Constitution. We must not violate the Constitution. It is my principal stand. But today I would rather talk about the principles, on which these elections must be held," said Viktor Yanukovych.

According to the President, the voters’ opinion on this issue must also be taken into account. "Local elections, of course, must be held within new legislative framework. We must adopt relevant bills that would allow electing MPs on a new basis," he said.

In the President’s view, it is important that people knew who they choose, and that deputies represented their regions, were responsible for the state of local affairs, and defended rights of local dwellers.

"It is one of primary tasks we must address, building a system of effective power," concluded the Head of State.