Ukraine's Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk has always been considered a pro-West politician and critic of Moscow influence.
Photo: Anastasia Ivanova
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Yushchenko’s Closest Allies Fired
The Ukrainian Supreme Rada has dealt a heavy blow on Viktor Yushchenko, firing his closest allies, Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk and Interior Ministry Yury Lutsenko, on Friday. The dismissal may undermine the president’s positions and boost the authority of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.
Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk and Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko were dismissed by the parliament by 247 and 248 votes, respectively, with 226 votes needed for the passage. The dismissal of President Yushchenko’s closest allies has shown a new drift between the president and the government headed by Viktor Yanukovich.
Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk has always been considered a pro-West and pro-NATO politician. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Yanukovich accused Tarasyuk of trying to derail his visit to the United States. The prime minister said the foreign minister had sent a note to the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, asking to reschedule the visit for a later time. Boris Tarasyuk admitted to sending the message but explained that under Ukraine’s constitution, the prime minister cannot make any foreign visits without the president’s consent. Speaking in Mariupol on Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich said that Boris Tarasyuk was “making a laughing-stock” of Ukraine before the world community.
Boris Tarasyuk and Viktor Yushchenko have promised to contest the decision of the Rada since Ukraine’s constitution does not describe the procedure of the foreign minister’s dismissal.
In contrast, post of the interior minister is wholly under the parliament’s jurisdiction. Outgoing Yury Lutsenko is believed to find another job in Ukraine’s Security Service.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 02, 2006
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