The announcement came as lawmakers gathered for a special session of parliament to seek an end to the standoff that has paralyzed the political system since authorities took a surprise decision in November to back away from closer ties with the European Union.
But it was unclear early Tuesday afternoon whether Azarov’s decision to step aside would lead to a softening in the position of the emboldened opposition, which is demanding fresh elections.
“The acute and dangerous conflict for our people, for the fate of Ukraine, demands further responsible steps,” Azarov said in a statement posted on the Cabinet website.
- His resignation should also lead to dissolution of the government.
Azarov, who was appointed prime minister in 2010 by President Viktor Yanukovych, was a key figure in the decision to pull back from closer ties with the European Union, a move that sparked the current wave of anti-government protests.
Activists say up to five protesters have been killed since demonstrations turned violent on January 19 in the wake of a mass rally in the capital, Kiev, calling for the repeal of a package of draconian anti-protest laws.
Azarov, who was born in Russia and is often mocked by government opponents for his poor command of Ukrainian, is close associate of Yanukovych, whose successful presidential campaign he ran in 2010, and is an outspoken critic of the opposition movement.
The veteran 66-year old politician has repeatedly accused opposition figures of trying to organize a coup, and last week described radical protesters in central Kiev as “terrorists.”
Azarov’s position had been undermined in recent days after the presidential administration confirmed that Yanukovych had offered Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a leader of the opposition Batkivshchyna party, the position of prime minister in an attempt to placate protesters.
Yatsenyuk, who rejected the offer, underplayed the significance of Azarov’s resignation.
"There should be a presidential decree, and in general, I'm not willing to discuss it," he told reporters in parliament..............................http://en.ria.ru/world/20140128/186985077/Ukraine-PM-Resigns-in-Bid-to-Defuse-Crisis.html
28/1/14
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Ημέρα κρίσιμων αποφάσεων στο Κίεβο....
ReplyDeleteΤην παραίτησή του υπέβαλε ο πρωθυπουργός Αζάροφ προκειμένου να διευκολύνει την έξοδο της χώρας από την κρίση. Εν τω μεταξύ ξεκίνησε η έκτακτη συνεδρίαση της βουλής με αντικείμενο τη νομοθεσία για τις διαδηλώσεις.
Η παραίτηση του Νικολάι Αζάροφ ήταν ένα από τα πολυάριθμα αιτήματα της φιλοευρωπαϊκής αντιπολίτευσης της οποίας ηγείται ο παγκόσμιος πρωταθλητής της πυγμαχίας Βίταλι Κλίτσκο.
Πέραν αυτού, η αντιπολίτευση ζητά να καταργηθούν οι «δικτατορικοί», όπως τους αποκαλεί, νόμοι που αποφασίστηκαν στις 16 Ιανουαρίου και οι οποίοι περιορίζουν σημαντικά το δικαίωμα του συναθροίζεσθαι, με σημαντικές ποινές για όσους συμμετέχουν σε διαδηλώσεις. Ο πρόεδρος Βίκτορ Γιανουκόβιτς πάντως δεν φαίνεται διατεθειμένος να προχωρήσει σε κατάργηση της επίμαχης νομοθεσίας. Δεν απέκλεισε ωστόσο το ενδεχόμενο αλλαγών.
Και σε άλλα ζητήματα όμως ο διάβολος κρύβεται στις λεπτομέρειες. Μπορεί ο πρόεδρος να συναίνεσε στη μεταφορά μέρους των αρμοδιοτήτων του στη βουλή, ανοιχτό παραμένει όμως πώς και πότε ακριβώς θα γίνει αυτό, με την αντιπολίτευση να ζητά άμεσες αποφάσεις.
Επίσης, το κοινοβούλιο πρόκειται να συζητήσει για το θέμα της παροχής αμνηστίας για όλους τους συμμετέχοντες στις διαδηλώσεις. Ο Β. Γιανουκόβιτς δεν φαίνεται να διαφωνεί επί της αρχής, θέτει όμως ως προϋπόθεση να αποσυρθούν οι διαδηλωτές από το κέντρο του Κιέβου και από τα κτίρια τα οποία έχουν καταλάβει. Η αντιπολίτευση δεν είναι αντίθετη σε αυτό, περιμένει όμως να δει συγκεκριμένα βήματα από την άλλη πλευρά.
Πρόωρες εκλογές;.....................http://dw.de/p/1AyGD
28/1/14
Ukraine PM Azarov offers to resign 'to help end conflict'.....
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov offered his resignation to President Viktor Yanukovich on Tuesday, saying he hoped his departure would help towards a peaceful settlement to two months of unrest which has convulsed the former Soviet republic.
The 66-year-old Azarov announced his decision as parliament met for an emergency session to work out possible concessions to the opposition to end street protests in the capital Kiev and in other cities in which six people have been killed.
Azarov, a loyal lieutenant of Yanukovich since the latter was elected to power in February 2010, said he was offering to step down "with the aim of creating extra means for finding a social-political compromise, for the sake of a peaceful settlement of the conflict."...........http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/28/us-ukraine-azarov-idUSBREA0R0BR20140128?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
28/1/14
Ukraine's parliament to consider bill to form commission for Constitution change...
ReplyDeleteKIEV, January 28. /ITAR-TASS/. The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday will consider a draft law to form a special commission to change the Constitution, the leader of the opposition Batkivshchyna party's parliament members, Arseny Yatsenyuk, said at the extraordinary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday.
"We are preparing a corresponding draft law to set up a special commission to make changes to the Constitution," Yatsenyuk said. The issue will be considered during the evening meeting.
Lawmakers intend to change the Constitution with the aim to redistribute presidential powers in favor of the parliament and change the presidential-parliamentary system for parliamentary-presidential, on which the opposition insists.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/716592
28/1/14
Ukrainian president accepts resignation of PM, entire cabinet...
ReplyDeleteKIEV: Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in a decree on Tuesday accepted the offer of resignation from Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the entire cabinet.
"I accept the resignation of Mykola Azarov and as a consequence the resignation of the entire Ukrainian government," read the text of the decree published on the presidency website.
He requested they stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is named.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Ukrainian-president-accepts-resignation-of-PM-entire-cabinet/articleshow/29507693.cms
28/1/14
Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov will serve for the time being as acting prime minister instead of outgoing Mykola Azarov, in compliance with the Ukrainian law On the Cabinet of Ministers, Azarov's press secretary Vitaly Lukyanenko said.
ReplyDelete"The president has instructed the Cabinet of ministers to continue performing its duties before a new government can start its work. This means that, in keeping with the law On the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the first deputy prime minister will perform the prime ministerial duties," Lukyanenko said.
Today Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in a decree accepted the offer of resignation from Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the entire cabinet.
"I accept the resignation of Mykola Azarov and as a consequence the resignation of the entire Ukrainian government," read the text of the decree published on the presidency website.
He requested they stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is named.
Earlier on Tuesday, Azarov has submitted his resignation amid an ongoing political turmoil in the country.....Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_28/Ukrainian-Deputy-PM-Arbuzov-to-act-as-prime-minister-Azarovs-spokesman-0291/
28/1/14
Krise in der Ukraine: Klitschko fordert Janukowitsch zur Kapitulation auf....
ReplyDeleteStaatschef Janukowitsch hat seinen Premier zurücktreten lassen und auch die umstrittenen Demonstrationsgesetze rückgängig gemacht. Doch der Opposition in der Ukraine reicht das nicht: Der Präsident müsse gehen, stellt Ex-Boxweltmeister Klitschko klar. Der Kampf gehe weiter.....http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/ukraine-klitschko-fordert-janukowitsch-zur-kapitulation-auf-a-946088.html
28/1/14