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Tymoshenko Appointed, Names Reformist Cabinet

Yushchenko kissing newly appointed Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's hand Friday. Gleb Garanich
KIEV -- Parliament confirmed Yulia Tymoshenko as Ukraine's new prime minister Friday and gave the firebrand of the Orange Revolution the go-ahead to set the country on a new, westward course.

In unanimous votes, Tymoshenko won confirmation as prime minister and won support for her government's program aimed at fighting poverty, tackling corruption and preparing Ukraine for European Union membership.

After the tally showing she had received 373 votes, far more than the 226 votes needed, the 44-year-old politician smiled broadly, then immediately walked over and hugged new President Viktor Yushchenko.

"People are waiting for a new government that will be honest and will resolve all the problems they have lived with for 14 years," said Yushchenko, who came to parliament to seek support for Tymoshenko, whom he called his "political partner, political friend."

Following the confirmation, she began announcing positions in her Cabinet, which was formed 24 hours later than expected as the diverse group of allies who helped Yushchenko win the presidency haggled for key posts.

Before the vote, Tymoshenko laid out the broad goals of her government's program, called "Toward the People," saying it would emphasize justice for every aspect of Ukrainian life.

She said the program would raise living standards and end the corruption, bribery and bureaucracy that choked business development and caused millions to lose faith in the government.

Tymoshenko also said Kiev must create a constructive relationship with its main trading partner, Russia.

"Russia for us is a first and top-priority partner," she said, adding later, "but our path lies in Europe."

The opposition leaders who jumped to Yushchenko's side to fight against the election fraud emerged the big winners. The Socialists won a handful of key posts, including the powerful Interior Ministry and governor posts in the strategically important Black Sea port region of Odessa and the eastern Poltava region.

Anatoliy Kinakh, a former prime minister who often appeared alongside Yushchenko during the protests, was named first deputy prime minister.

Other key appointments included Borys Tarasyuk, a former foreign minister who has pushed for Ukraine's entry to the EU, named foreign minister, and Anatoliy Gritsenko, who briefly studied at a U.S. military academy, named defense minister.

Tymoshenko's ally, Oleksandr Turchinov, was tapped to head Ukraine's secret service. He immediately quieted speculation that the powerful agency might be set loose on members of the former government, including former President Leonid Kuchma.

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