Ukrainian Parliament Won't Reverse Government Dismissal

Volodymyr Lytvyn, speaker of the Ukrainian parliament (file photo) (epa) 16 January 2006 -- The speaker of the Ukrainian parliament said today that the legislative body will not be swayed from its decision to dismiss the government.

Parliament voted to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov on 10 January over a gas deal with Russia that critics maintain is detrimental to Ukraine's national interests.

President Viktor Yushchenko asked parliament to rescind its vote, and a draft resolution to that effect was then submitted to parliament by a deputy from the pro-presidential Our Ukraine party.

Volodymyr Lytvyn said the draft document had absolutely no chance of being endorsed.

But he added that parliament might reconsider its resolution to dismiss the government if there was a cabinet reshuffle.

(Interfax-ukr, Ukrainska pravda)