The Crimean Parliament voted on May 27 for a new Premier, Serhiy Kunitsyn, Krasnoperekopsk mayor and leader of the NDP Crimean organization, and approved the autonomous republic’s ministers in a package, without discussing individual candidates.
Ukrainian Premier Valery Pustovoitenko, attending the session, noted that Mr. Kunitsyn’s appointment was preceded by “a great deal of work” done by Crimean Speaker Leonid Hrach together with the President and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, adding that the Crimean Parliament and government were now headed by the leaders of the largest political forces, the Communists and the People’s Democratic Party (NDP). President Kuchma promptly sent his greetings, wishing him “coordinated policy” aimed at improving the Crimean socioeconomic situation.
Mr. Kunitsyn, in turn, assured that he would do his best to make life in the Crimea easier, adding that a task force will soon be formed in the Council of Ministers to analyze the economic situation in the republic’s industries, and that in two weeks the Crimean Cabinet would offer Parliament a new executive structure. He further stated that CPU, NDP, and Union representatives signed a statement attesting to what can be legally described as joint and several liability for the Crimean coalition government, declaring that they would “unite their efforts, resort to compromise, and work constructively in the name of the Crimea.”






