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Ukraine parliament sacks foreign minister

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-03 20:00

KIEV -- Ukraine's parliament dismissed Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko on Tuesday over his handling of policy, including a territorial dispute with Romania and relations with giant neighbour Russia.

It was the second departure of a government minister since the New Year after Finance Minister Viktor Pynznyk resigned last month, citing differences with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

A total of 250 members in the 450-seat assembly voted to sack Ohryzko, a career diplomat and one of two ministers appointed by President Viktor Yushchenko. That was considerably more than the 226 needed for the measure to pass.

Members accused him of botching key issues, including his approach to a ruling last month by the International Court of Justice extending Romania's access to areas in the Black Sea believed to contain gas and oil around a disputed island.

That ruling was welcomed as a victory for Romanian diplomacy by nearly all politicians and the media in Bucharest.

Deputies also accused him of behaving in an aggressive manner towards Moscow.

His ministry summoned Russia's ambassador last month and threatened to expel him for "undiplomatic" comments.