Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Bills drafted by the previous government could be supported by the new Cabinet of Ministers. Bills drafted by the previous government could be supported by the new Cabinet of Ministers, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"We need to look at the bills that were drafted by the previous government. If they are in line with the government's point of view, then we'll submit them to the Verkhovna Rada. If not, then we need to withdraw them and draw up new bills," he said at a meeting with government members on Friday.

Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn, who also attended the meeting, in turn, said that all of the bills that had been tabled in parliament on behalf of former President Viktor Yuschenko were currently considered to be withdrawn.

He also said that the Verkhovna Rada had submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers the bills drafted by the previous government so that "the government can see which of them could be used and which can be rejected."