Yushchenko on Tuesday obtained the power to dismiss Parliament and has been threatening to take the action unless the future government coalition accepts his pro-Western policy.
The agreement, known as the Universal for National Unity, lists Ukraine??™s key foreign and domestic policy initiatives, such as fast accession to NATO and the WTO, and cooperation with the EU. It calls for economic reforms, such as reduction of taxes and allowing trading of land. It also promotes energy conservation, gas and oil supply diversification away from heavy dependence on Russia.
???Yushchenko demonstrated his readiness for a compromise with the Regions Party and its allies, without trading off his principles and values,??? Volodymyr Fesenko, the director of Penta political consultancy, said. ???That??™s the main point of the roundtable.???
The parties, except for the Communists that are against joining NATO and the EU, have showed signs of support for the agreement that will be finalized and submitted for signing on Friday morning.
???It may unite different political groups and may become a platform for the new coalition,??? Ivan Vasiunyk, the first deputy chief of staff at the Yushchenko office, said.
Our Ukraine has been long insisting on expelling the Communist Party from the coalition for their anti-market and pro-Russian platform as a condition for its joining the alliance.
The coalition between Our Ukraine, the Regions Party and the Socialist Party would control 296 seats in the 450-seat Parliament.
???The compromise would allow us to form the grand coalition for the national unity,??? Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, a senior member of Our Ukraine, said. ???Without the Communists.??? (tl/ez)
|