"I am sure we will be able to find a common language, and that the coalition will not split," said Vasyl Kyselyov, commenting on threats by the Communist Party's faction to withdraw from the anti-crisis coalition if coalition factions vote for Volodymyr Ohryzko's appointment as foreign minister.
The MP said that although Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych had earlier proposed discussing Ohryzko's appointment in groups, most parliamentarians did not favor [Ohryzko's candidacy].
"I believe we could propose that the prime minister and Parliamentary Speaker Oleksander Moroz speak to President [Viktor Yushchenko] so that he introduces another nominee," Kyselyov said.
Earlier Thursday, Ukraine's parliament postponed a decision on Volodymyr Ohryzko's candidacy for the post of a foreign minister until March 20 and said additional rounds of consultations would be held before the next vote.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko first introduced Ohryzko's nomination to parliament February 5, following the resignation of former Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, a key presidential ally who actively promoted pro-Western policies during his time in office.
At the time, 196 MPs voted for Ohryzko, with 226 votes required. In line with Ukraine's Constitution, the president must submit the candidacy for a foreign minister to parliament for consideration.
Viktor Yanukovych, Ukrainian Prime Minister and leader of the Party of Regions, said Wednesday the parliamentary majority, including his party, the Socialist and the Communist parties, would support the presidential appointee.
According to the latest reports, Ukraine's president has invited the prime minister, the speaker of the Supreme Rada (Ukraine's parliament) and the leaders of parliamentary factions to discuss ways out of the crisis at parliament March 19.
