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.
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)