Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said today that he is nominating Viktor Yanukovych to become candidate of prime minister.

 

Yushchenko made the announcement in an early morning address, two hours after the deadline formally passed for him to decide on Yanukovych's candidacy.

 

"I have decided to put forward the candidacy of Viktor Yanukovych for the post of prime minister," Yushchenko said on national television.

 

He said the decision was made after Yanukovych, head of the opposition Regions party, agreed to sign up to a declaration of principles safeguarding Ukraine's drive for closer integration with Europe and market reforms.

 

Yanukovich was prime minister from 2002 to 2004 under former President Leonid Kuchma.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2006)