Ukrainian Government Restores Funding To Foreign Ministry

KIEV, Ukraine -- The Ukrainian government has restored funding to the Foreign Ministry that was cut off in the New Year amid the premier's attempts to oust Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, an official said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk
"As of this morning ... funds have arrived in the Foreign Ministry's account," said ministry spokesman Andriy Deshchytsya.

Tarasyuk, a presidential appointee, complained last week that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's government had refused to open his ministry's bank accounts this year, leaving it unable to pay the salaries of thousands of diplomats and other employees, as well as money due to international organizations or rent on embassies abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in televised remarks that while funding was restored to the ministry, the government would not allow the money to be used to fund "the so-called foreign minister, and that means also his foreign trips."

Tarasyuk, whose pro-Western views strongly echo those of President Viktor Yushchenko, has been locked in an escalating struggle with the Russian-leaning coalition government run by Yanukovych, which wants him out.

Last month, Yanukovych won parliament's approval to dismiss Tarasyuk, after saying he could not work with him. Tarasyuk openly advocates policies such as NATO membership, in contrast to the views of Yanukovych's party. Tarasyuk also heads a political party that has declared itself in opposition to Yanukovych.

Tarasyuk appealed his ouster in court and won, prompting Yushchenko to reappoint him. An appeals court this month overturned the lower court's ruling, and Tarasyuk is now challenging that decision.

Yushchenko and Yanukovych share power in an uneasy arrangement that came into force last year; the Constitution is unclear about the precise division of power, prompting a constant tug-of-war between the two political rivals.

Deshchytsya said Tuesday that funds were put into the ministry's account after a conversation between Tarasyuk and Yanukovych on Monday. Tarasyuk told Ukraine's 1+1 television that the premier "agreed that the situation must be rectified, and issued a corresponding order," according to the Unian news agency.

Tarasyuk said that Yanukovych demanded no concessions from him.

Source: Kyiv Post