Ukrainian Parliament Approves Foreign Minister

New Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (file photo) (epa) March 21, 2007 -- Ukraine's parliament today approved Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a 32-year-old former economy minister, as the country's new foreign minister.

His nomination was put forward by pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko earlier today.


Deputies on March 20 for the second time rejected Yushchenko's previous nominee for the post, career diplomat Volodymyr Ohryzko.


The president has long been at odds with parliament and with Moscow-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.


The previous foreign minister, Borys Tarasyuk, was forced from office under pressure from parliament.


(AFP, Reuters, ITAR-TASS)

RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, And Moldova Report

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