Ukraine prime minister orders abolition of ministries
14:02 10/12/2010
KIEV, December 10 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has started self-reorganization in line with President Viktor Yanukovych's orders, the government press service said on Friday.
"Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has directed the government members to immediately start the process of the abolition and reorganization of ministries and agencies, and take urgent measures to reduce the staffs of the Cabinet of Ministers, ministries and departments," the press service said.
On Thursday Yanukovych announced an administrative reform, including a reduction in the number of Cabinet members from 24 to 16.
He has ordered the dismissal of the majority of ministers, the abolition of a number of ministries and the establishment of new government agencies.
Eleven ministers and all the four deputy prime ministers have retained their positions.
Ukraine's Constitutional Court ruled on September 30 that changes to the constitution in 2004 were unconstitutional. It returned an array of powers to the presidency that had been transferred to parliament, including the right to appoint and dismiss ministers.
