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Ukrainian PM Delays Russian Visit For Sowing Season


Premier Tymoshenko (file photo) 13 April 2005 -- A spokesman for Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko said that the premier postponed a planned visit to Russia later this week because of the start of spring crop-planting.

Tymoshenko's spokesman, Vitaliy Chepinoga said President Viktor Yushchenko recommended the Ukrainian prime minister avoid foreign travel until the end of the sowing season.

Ukrainian Economics Minister Sergei Teryokhin said earlier today that the delay was due to comments by Russian Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov, who said the previous day that Tymoshenko remains on the wanted list in Russia for alleged bribery in the mid-1990s.

In the Russian Duma, the lower house of parliament, chairman Boris Gryzlov said there were no political obstacles preventing Tymoshenko from visiting Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already said there was no reason for Tymoshenko not to come and added that "we are waiting for her."

(AFP/ITAR-TASS)

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