KIEV, May 18 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's prime minister said Thursday the incumbent government had drafted a program for a Cabinet formed by a future parliamentary coalition.
Negotiations on formation of a parliamentary coalition - which will form the basis for the former Soviet republic's next administration - are still ongoing following elections March 26.
Yuriy Yekhanurov said the new government's main objectives should be reducing the number of state-owned enterprises in the former Soviet republic, ensuring continuous GDP growth of 6%-7% a year, and cutting the country's dependence on energy imports.
"I want to stress again that Ukraine is enjoying a unique opportunity: It can either take effective steps to advance reform of the country or again plunge into idle chatter," Yekhanurov said.
Yekhanurov also said the new government's top priority should be to guarantee private property rights.
A wide-ranging re-privatization campaign launched under the government that came to power following the "orange revolution" of late 2004 is widely seen as one of the reasons behind a significant decline in Ukraine's economic growth. Growth slumped from 12.5% in 2004 to 3.5% in 2005, as the government continued intervention in the economy, engaged in substantial social spending, and then fell apart in September 2005.
President Viktor Yushchenko's administration has not undertaken many of the liberal reforms it promised during the "orange revolution," although the country has amended much of its legislation to meet World Trade Organization requirements and reportedly plans to complete accession talks and join the trade body this year.
