Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Nominates New Foreign Minister

Volodymyr Ohryzko on February 2 (epa)

February 5, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has asked parliament to appoint Volodymyr Ohryzko as foreign minister, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported.

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February 05, 2007

Following the resignation of Borys Tarasyuk on January 30, the cabinet endorsed First Deputy Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko as acting foreign minister.

An ally of the pro-Western Yushchenko, Tarasyuk had been locked in a political battle with pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

Late last year, Yanukovych won parliament's approval to dismiss Tarasyuk, but Yushchenko kept him in his post.

As a first deputy foreign minister, Ohryzko has been a lead negotiator with Moscow on the issue of the stationing of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.

Ohryzko is an associate of Tarasyuk, and it is berlieved he will continue a pro-Western policy.

(with material from Reuters, ukrainianjournal.com)

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