Government

The first free and partially contested elections in Ukraine were held in March 1990 and a new 450-member Supreme Council (parliament) was elected. A declaration of sovereignty was adopted in July 1990; independence was proclaimed on August 24, 1991. This was confirmed by 90% of the voters in a referendum held on December 1, 1991.

In the summer of 1991 the parliament voted to create the post of president and the first presidential election was held in December. Executive power is exercised by a council (cabinet) of ministers headed by the premier, who is appointed by the president subject to parliamentary approval. The Crimea was recognized as an autonomous republic within Ukraine in 1991.

On June 28 1996 a new constitution that guaranteed the right of private property was approved by the parliament.

Ukraine pursues the policy of independence and friendly relations with other countries. Ukraine is one of the founding members of the United Nations Organization and takes part in the work of various international bodies and organizations.

Active Words and Phrases:

expertise	спеціальні знання, компетентність	executive	виконавчий
cradle	колиска	appoint	призначати на посаду
fertile soil	плодоносні землі	approval	схвалення
welding	зварювання	subject (to)	підпорядкувати
contest	змагання	private property	приватна власність
election	вибори	pursue	дотримуватися курсу

Ex. IV. Insert articles where necessary:

1. ___ Ukraine is one of ___ largest countries of ___ Eastern Europe.

2. Its territory stretches for 893 kilometres from ___ north to ___ south and for 1,316 kilometres from ___ east to ___ west.

3. It occupies ___ area from ___ picturesque Polissia to ___ Black Sea and to ___ Sea of Azov; from ___ high Carpathian Mountains to ___ Donets steppes.

4. It borders on ___ Russian Federation, ___ Belarus, ___ Moldova, ___ Poland, ___ Slovakia, ___ Hungary, ___ Romania.

5. ___ major rivers are ___ Dnipro, ___ Bug, ___ Donets and others.

6. Three-fourths of ___ population of ___ Ukraine are ___ Ukrainians, ___ rest is made up of ___ Russians, ___ Jews, ___ Poles, ___ Belarusians, ___ Moldavians, ___ Hungarians and dozens of other nationalities.

7. ___ Kyiv equals ___ Paris in area and almost ___ two-thirds of it are ___ parks, gardens and boulevards.

8. ___ highest peak in ___ Ukrainian Carpathians, named ___ Hoverlah, is 2 thousand meters high.

Ex. V. What do these numbers in the text refer to?

12 603,7 150,000 1,316 893 48 55 450 1990 1991 24 1996 90

Ex. VI. Here are the answers. Work out questions.

1. In the 12^th century.

2. Approximately 48 million people.

3. Fertile steppeland with a forest-steppe area.

4. Yes, climatic conditions are favourable for agriculture.

5. In the north-west.

6. The Crimea in the south.

7. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

8. The way of manufacturing artificial diamonds.

9. Methods of electric welding.

10. In December.