President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree earlier this month to dissolve the Supreme Rada after 11 opposition members defected to the ruling coalition. The coalition led by pro-premier faction defied the order and referred it to the Constitutional Court, which will consider the issue Tuesday.
"We still think that political forces should reach an agreement before the Constitutional Court makes a decision," Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a RIA Novosti news conference.
Yatsenyuk, who was appointed as a pro-presidential candidate March 21, said the situation around the Constitutional Court was causing concern, making an apparent reference to the chairman's resignation earlier this month and five judges refusing to consider the issue, citing pressure.
"We would like the Constitutional Court to come up with a ruling, even though its reputation has been marred," Yatsenyuk said, adding that some judges were implicated in corruption and inquiries had been opened.
President Yushchenko said in Kiev he was ready to postpone the early parliamentary elections set for May 27 if the parties in the conflict struck a deal.
Under law, elections are to be held within 60 days after the presidential decree comes into effect, which was April 2. But Yushchenko said other mechanisms could be engaged if all parties agreed to take part in the elections.
The ruling coalition led by the Party of Regions also includes the Socialists and the Communists. These parties have refused to recognize the presidential decree and prepare for early elections.
"The package [of proposals for Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych] that I sent seven days ago allows for this opportunity too," Yushchenko said, calling for a dialogue.
Unlike the parliamentary coalition, the pro-presidential Our Ukraine party has started preparing for the polls and approved a list of candidates Monday. The list contains Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko.
Mediators
Foreign Minister Yatsenyuk said Kiev was not considering mediation in the political conflict. "As for mediators - it is like a wedding when a bride's consent is desirable," Yatsenyuk said.
"We thank all the countries that have expressed their positions on possible ways of regulating the Ukrainian crisis but we think the Ukrainian elite today should realize that political conflicts must be resolved politically within the country," he said.
"As for the president's visit to Brussels, preliminary agreements were made with [President of the European Commission] Mr. Barroso... but I am sure that agreements must first be made within Ukraine and only then can we discuss any mediation," Yatsenyuk said.
Yushchenko will go to Brussels Tuesday to meet with Jose Manuel Barroso on the domestic situation. The meeting was initiated by the Ukrainian leader.
The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rene van der Linden, said Monday the organization was willing to mediate in the crisis between Yushchenko and Yanukovych if Kiev made a formal request.
The European Union mediated in Yushchenko's standoff with Yanukovych in 2004 when he defeated the Moscow-backed rival in a rerun of the allegedly rigged presidential poll.
