Yushchenko forms new Ukraine government

KIEV, Ukraine, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko announced his new government Thursday, selecting economist Yuriy Yekhanurov as prime minister.

Yushchenko said the new government ministers were chosen for their leadership qualities as he seeks to "de-politicize" the government since his so-called Orange Revolution ousted Communists late last year.

Voice of America said Yekhanurov is seen as a pragmatic, competent figure capable of reaching out to all political factions, but with little ambition of his own, unlike former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whom Yushchenko fired Sept. 8 amid allegations of corruption and infighting.

In his first speech, Yekhanurov said Thursday that re-privatization processes launched by Tymoshenko were now officially over and that it was necessary to guarantee the inviolability of private property.

"That which had to be returned to the custody of the state, has already been returned. All of the controversial issues which exist today will be solved only by negotiations and amicable agreements," he said.