Ukrainian foreign ministry left without financing

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After the Ukrainian Supreme Rada passed a decision to dismiss Boris Tarasyuk from the post of foreign minister on December 1, 2006, the ministry found itself in a situation of purposeful blocking of its activity by the Cabinet of Ministers and separate governmental bodies, Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk said, a REGNUM correspondent in Kiev informs.

“For the first time in history of independent Ukraine, because of illegal orders by the Cabinet of Ministers, the ministry was deprived of financing for the current year. Despite the fact that by the law on budget 2007 envisages money for diplomatic institutions, the ministry has not received it yet. Thus, Ukraine was deprived of a possibility to fulfill its international obligations, particularly, pay dues to international institutions, send diplomats abroad for negotiations, pay bills for service of foreign delegations,” the foreign minister said.

Besides, Boris Tarasyuk said that “all employees of the ministry and diplomatic missions abroad became hostage to the illegal actions of the Cabinet of Ministers. Such actions cause gross damage to Ukraine’s international reputation, by which some top officials have allegedly become concerned recently. I and my assistants have taken all possible measures to settle such absurd situation. As an extreme measure, the ministry had to turn to court claiming for starting financing by the Treasury.”

Boris Tarasyuk urged to “stop arbitrariness and illegality, assault on the Ukrainian diplomacy and, as a result, on national interests.”