You're reading: Yanukovych: Ukrainian parliament negotiating possible govt reconfiguration

Moscow, November 20 (Interfax) - Political groups in the Ukrainian parliament are negotiating not only a candidate for speaker but also a possible reconfiguration of the government, Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych told the media in Moscow on Thursday.

“A candidate for speaker is not the only subject of the negotiations. We are negotiating the possible reconfiguration and resignation of the government,” he said.

It is necessary to reach political consensus against the background of the world financial crisis, Yanukovych said.

“Although parliament forces have different ideologies, they should find a common ground for unification,” he said.

Yanukovych has suggested a moratorium on political issues that split the Ukrainian society. It is necessary to quit ‘unfriendly rhetoric’ concerning a Ukrainian strategic partner, Russia, and to think about things that may unite Ukraine, he said.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged parliament groups to unite and form a coalition in the response to the world financial crisis in her televised address to the nation on October 19. She also voiced the readiness for government reconfiguration.

“I suggest an urgent reconfiguration of the government and the formation of a cabinet that can protect Ukraine from the world financial crisis,” she said.