Ukraine’s New PM Blames Ministries for Acting Against Country Interests

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine’s newly approved prime minister, charged with reversing an economic slowdown, has castigated the outgoing economy and finance ministries, saying they had failed to act in the national interests, Reuters reported.


Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov
Technocrat Yuri Yekhanurov, approved by parliament at the second attempt this week, told reporters most of his new cabinet line-up would be made public next Tuesday.

President Viktor Yushchenko appointed him to replace Yulia Tymoshenko, his ally in last year’s Orange revolution, after months of infighting had split the liberal administration into rival camps, each accusing the other of corruption.

Economic growth slowed to its lowest rate in five years, with the 2005 forecast scaled back to four percent from 6.5 and more earlier. Policy uncertainty, mainly proposed reviews of “dubious” privatisations, cut sharply into foreign investment.

“The Economy Ministry gives the impression, it is sad to note, of operating under a ’made to order’ principle and not in the manner of a command centre of Ukraine’s economy,” Yekhanurov said after the first cabinet session since the assembly’s vote.

“And what happened to the professional principles of the Finance Ministry? This is a matter to be discussed separately by specialists.”

Yekhanurov is seen as a caretaker premier ahead of elections next March to a parliament with expanded powers. The ousted Tymoshenko, widely admired for her fiery style, has vowed to contest and win the poll to get her job back.

The new prime minister said this week he would shed two-thirds of the outgoing cabinet and give prominent places to technocrats rather than seasoned politicians.

Consultations on the government were proceeding, Yekhanurov said. The president had made choices for security and foreign policy portfolios, while he had made proposals for other sectors.

Source: MosNews