Our Ukraine would nominate its leader Yuriy Yekhanurov, Yushchenko??™s long-time ally, as the prime minister, while the Regions Party would nominate the speaker of Parliament, according to the agreement.

The coalition between Our Ukraine and the Regions Party would continue Yushchenko??™s pro-Western policy, and would probably heal a split between western and eastern regions of the country.

???I am convinced that a project of uniting parties that are strong in the western regions and parties strong in the eastern regions??¦ would be one of [the country??™s] biggest political projects,??? Yushchenko said. ???This is what the nation should strive for.???

The Regions Party has so far been refusing to dissolve its pro-Russian coalition, while instead urging Our Ukraine simply to join the grouping, a move that Yushchenko had vehemently rejected.

???I believe that chances for [Our Ukraine??™s] joining of the in the current [pro-Russian] coalition are not very much optimistic,??? Yushchenko said. ???It will be very hard to find arguments to explain it.???

Yanukovych, after the meeting with Yushchenko, softened his stance saying the coalition between Our Ukraine and the Regions Party would have ???signs of stability??? and be ???capable of forming a strong government.???

But he fell short of suggesting that the current pro-Russian coalition will be dissolved, again suggesting that Our Ukraine may simply join the grouping.

???Conditions will be created for a united coalition between [pro-Russian groups] and Our Ukraine,??? Yanukovych said. (tl/ez)