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Yushchenko ally confirmed Premier

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Ukraine's Parliament on Thursday confirmed a moderate technocrat as the new Prime Minister, ending a political stalemate and signalling a shift in President Viktor Yushchenko's policy away from radical pro-Western ideas of the 10-month-old "orange revolution." Mr. Yury Yekhanurov, a long-standing ally of Mr. Yushchenko, won the support of 289 members of the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada, well above the required majority of 226 votes. The President resubmitted Mr. Yekhanurov two days after he was rejected by three votes and after hectic consultations with parliamentary leaders. Mr. Yekhanurov's approval became possible thanks to a deal between Mr. Yushchenko and his main political opponent, former Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich, whose disputed victory in last year's presidential election provoked "orange revolution" protests that catapulted Mr. Yushchenko to power. An hour before Thursday's vote in Parliament the two rivals signed a memorandum setting out principles of cooperation between the Government and the Opposition. "The political elites of the West and the East have reached an understanding," the new Prime Minister said after winning parliamentary support.

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