KIEV, July 2 ??“ Ukraine??™s pro-government groups managed to reach some progress in talks with a pro-Russian opposition party over ending a standoff in Parliament that may open door for a compromise during a scheduled meeting Monday.

Roman Zvarych, a senior member of Our Ukraine, President Viktor Yushchenko??™s party, said coalition members have been meeting for several days Regions Party representatives ahead of the meeting.

???We conducted consultations,??? Zvarych said. ???We agreed the schedule of the meeting, and we preliminary agreed on a final document. Of course, it will still be amended [after the meeting].???

The Regions Party, which controls 186 lawmakers in 450-seat Parliament, has been putting pressure on pro-government coalition, which controls 243 seats, for almost a week by blocking sessions at the legislature.

The party has been demanding top positions in key standing committees in Parliament as a condition for unblocking the sessions and letting pro-Western groups vote to elect the speaker and the prime minister.

The standoff has been delaying the creation of the government, which was supposed to tackle several urgent issues, including securing extra supplies of natural gas.

Yushchenko said the delays had been badly hurting the country??™s investment image and could slow down the economy.

???The country is on the threshold of grain harvesting, preparation for the heating season and discussions over 2007 budget,??? Yushchenko said in a radio address to the nation on Saturday. ???The energy security is on the agenda, including talks over securing energy supplies.???

The Regions Party, in a special statement, said the party had been ready for the meeting with pro-government groups.

???If the format of the meeting satisfies us and the government doesn??™t ignore our demands??¦ will actively get involved in the talks,??? Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the Regions Party, said.

The party blocked the session of Parliament last week by shutting electronic voting system thus not letting pro-government lawmakers register for the session.

A group of Regions lawmakers also swarmed around a tribune and presidium thus not letting temporary leadership of Parliament to take their seats and start the session. The group, with about 15 rotating lawmakers, holds its ground on a 24-hour schedule since early last week.

The Regions Party, which is apparently frustrated to see their pro-Western opponents forming the government, demanded to get control over some 10 key committees in Parliament, including the budget committee.

The party also wants lawmakers to cast secret ballots while electing the speaker of Parliament, as opposed to an open vote by the electronic voting system.

The Regions hope this would allow their leader, Viktor Yanukovych, to be elected as the speaker, apparently in anticipation that some pro-government lawmakers would secretly defect to their camp. (tl/ez)