TARASIUK POSING AS A BONA FIDE MINISTER

Boris Tarasiuk, sacked by parliament as foreign minister, visited Prague where Czech authorities received him as a bona fide chief of the Ukrainian diplomacy. This visite infuriated Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych who asked Ukrainian prosecutors to take measures against leader of the nationalist Rukh Party. Mr. Tarasiuk has full support of Victor Yushchenko. The Ukrainian president reappointed him as foreign minister despite objections from parliament and the Cabinet of ministers. Mr. Yanukovitch says that he did not authorize Tarasiuk’s trip to Prague. According to the Prime Minister, Mr. Tarasiuk’s activities harmed the Ukraine’s image.
Tuesday, the Czech Ambassador in Kiev was summoned to the Cabinet of Ministers for explanation. The Ukrainian government wants to know why Tarasiuk was received in Prague as a foreing minister of the Ukraine. The Ukrainian Government issued a statement reminding that Mr. Tarasiuk had been fired by parliament on December 1, 2006, and that he cannot represent the Ukraine abroad.